[Elecraft] Another means of exciting the ionosphere?

[Ken Kopp]

These upward-running bolts, first noted by the shuttle and
orbiter crews are also known as "sprites".  There is a school 
of thought that the ionization of the ionosphere by these 
upward-running bolts of lightening may ... at least in part ...
account for the somewhat unexplained sporadic-E propagation.

There also seem to be instances of signals being reflected 
by the ionized lightning bolt paths, much like meteor scatter 
or aircraft reflections.

Google "Red sprites and blue jets" for additional information.

73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
     ElecraftCovers at rfwave.net
     http://tinyurl.com/7lm3m5