Dear Nerik
What Nerik described is rare but does happen, these upward lightening strokes are known as sprites - What Nerik described is very rare, They are usualy visable at night as upward streamers from storm systems. - Complex phomenea - the Earth is a huge capacatance at -ve - What he or she saw was a very energetic stream of electrons into the ionsphere. Facinating any more details please.
CAT III