Thread: What is this phenomenon?

People in Japan have reported sightings of huge columns of light that appear right after an electrical storm. What are they?

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Its the RAPTURE... j/k

Originally Posted by pyoko

People in Japan have reported sightings of huge columns of light that appear right after an electrical storm. What are they?

Multiple occurrences and multiple sightings (plus photographic evidence) would probably draw the media's attention, but I haven't seen anything so far. Perhaps you could give us a few weblinks to this information.

No, I cannot find proper sources, as this is either fake or has yet to be confirmed and only amateur pics are available.

Some higher res pics:

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This one is confirmed, but not in Japan, as a weather phenomenon:

Light pillars, An Incredible Optical Phenomenon | Amusing Planet

In English:

Unusual Phenomenon: Mysterious Light Pillar in Japan | Scienceray

Again:

Unusual Light Pillars In Japan? - Mysteries And X-Files

If you look closely in the higher res photos of confirmed phenomena you will notice that most of them are winter shots. The light column is being caused by refraction and reflection off ice particles in the atmosphere. The picture of the sun with the column rising from it is quite common in the winters around here. (North Dakota USA).

Originally Posted by dmwyant

If you look closely in the higher res photos of confirmed phenomena you will notice that most of them are winter shots. The light column is being caused by refraction and reflection off ice particles in the atmosphere. The picture of the sun with the column rising from it is quite common in the winters around here. (North Dakota USA).

I thought sundog as well, but it doesn't really look like that either...but a overexposure during the picture or low dynamic range could account for that.

Only the link I labelled "not in Japan" is in winter - this is the confirmed legit and explained weather phenomenon.

The other links are in Japan - in summer whenit is extremely hot, and right after a lightning storm. In one of the pics, you can see an electric tendril climbing up/ down the light column. Fake or real, it is nothing to do with the winter shots.

What are they pumping up in the air in japan. Your lightning shoots upwards? Does your rain fall upwards as well, this would make me conclude that the earth is flat, and japan is on the bottom.

Originally Posted by Zwolver

What are they pumping up in the air in japan. Your lightning shoots upwards? Does your rain fall upwards as well, this would make me conclude that the earth is flat, and japan is on the bottom.

Lightning, in fact, shoots both upwards and downwards.

BLUE JETS
Appearance: a cone-shaped, upward moving fountain of light, often brighter on top. May be at angle to vertical.
Color: dim blue.
Duration: about a quarter of a second; just slow enough to sense upward motion.

http://www.sky-fire.tv/index.cgi/lookforsprites.html

UPWARD LIGHTNING
Appearance: similar to a conventional lightning bolt, generally rather straight, may be tilted off vertical axis;does not flicker like cloud-to-ground flashes.
Color: yellow or white lightning channel, maybe with blue flames above.
Duration: unusually long? Some reports of one, two and even 5 seconds duration.
Frequency: seems to occur every several minutes, sometimes for 40 minutes or more.
Relation to lightning: unknown; storms may have very high to almost zero lightning rates.
Type of thunderstorms: supercells, tornadic storms; rapidly growing cells with cauliflower tops.
Size of thunderstorm: smaller (10s of miles across), especially those associated with severe weather.
Portion of thunderstorm: above the highest part of thunderstom - may see cauliflower dome protuding into stratosphere
When in life cycle: most likely when storm is young and in maximum growth stage.
Range to storm: nearby storms best, perhaps visible to 100-200 miles away.
Best part of country: Central US and very possibly along Gulf and Atlantic coastal areas.
Best time: anytime? brilliant enough to be visible both day and night.
AM radio static: storm may have active static, but may not be required.
Photography: set video camera on widest aperture and let run; set for time exposures on still cameras; use a tripod.

Originally Posted by pyoko

Only the link I labelled "not in Japan" is in winter - this is the confirmed legit and explained weather phenomenon.

if it explained then i dont think you need much else. is their any links explaining this?