skystos
Skystos are a class of transient, luminous filaments observed in the upper atmosphere. They appear as slender, ribbon-like structures that are often translucent and pale blue-green, suspended at altitudes in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Skystos typically persist for a few seconds to several minutes and can drift with prevailing winds and electric fields.
The term skystos was coined in the late 2030s by researchers studying high-altitude optical phenomena. The
Formation and characteristics are still an active area of research. Skystos are thought to result from interactions
Distribution and observations show that skystos have been reported most often in polar and subpolar regions
Scientific significance lies in their potential to illuminate coupling between atmospheric layers, upper-atmosphere electricity, and wave