Molecular excitation in sprites

We have determined the molecular internal energy distribution in the N 2 B³II g state from the fluorescence measured during the observations of sprites during 1995. Spectrally resolved data from two different instruments and three different sprites are compared with theoretical spectra to obtain excited state vibrational distributions. Energy dependent electron excitation cross‐sections and laboratory data were used to estimate the energies of electrons producing the red sprite radiance. Implications for chemical production in the mesosphere and critical future measurements are discussed.