Red lightning: The electrifying weather phenomenon explained

It seems the blue and red colors of sprites are due to Nitrogen in the ionosphere.

From this paper.

"The blue emissions from sprites have been shown to be a combination of N2 second positive (2P) and N2+ first negative (1N) bands which are recorded by the MAP. The red sensitive HSI quantum efficiency has a broad peak centered at 700 nm, which records the N2 (1P) emission...The N2+ Meinel bands will contribute little, if any, to the HSI signals because they are heavily quenched at sprite altitudes."
 

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