Streamers and diffuse glow observed in upper atmospheric electrical discharges

A telescopic imaging system was designed to observe fine structure in high-altitude lightning-related electrical discharges known as "sprites". Hundreds of sprites were observed and much of the fine structure can be categorized in terms of streamer and diffuse glow discharges. A streamer/diffuse glow transition occurs at varying altitudes and is dependent on the ambient mesospheric/lower ionospheric conductivity profile. Both stationary and dynamic beading is observed and this feature is currently unexplained by prevailing sprite theories.