"...the event that occurred in the Northwest is only the precursor for a larger event that may be as yet forthcoming." - Christopher Montgomery*[see footnotes]
This phenomenon is frequently reported in Washington State especially in the Yakima Indian Reservation. These balls of energy are produced in areas of high tectonic/plate activity where the tremendous force of the plates grinding against each other emits balls of plasma derived from electrical energy that is produced by the piezoelectric effect.
Although this phenomenon is not completely understood, I have identified these events. They occur as the result of gravity sliding. These geological events produce earthlights that have been seen numerous times by many eyewitnesses. They usually precede massive earthquakes of significant magnitude and register on the Richter scale.
The events reportedly seen on Thursday morning were very similar to those that have been seen in Japan just prior to earthquakes of devastating proportions. The last time I have seen an earthlight of similar magnitude preceded the last major deep quake in the Seattle area. Your city lies on the northern side of the Pacific Rim, an area of high geologic activity. This is also an area where earthlights are seen in great numbers both traveling at great velocity as well as the high altitudes associated with bolides, or meteorites.
These balls of plasma usually precede quakes of great magnitude; the level of activity recorded by seismographers during the event that occurred in the Northwest is only the precursor for a larger event that may be as yet forthcoming.
Christopher Montgomery,
Executive Director of research, uforc.com
------------------------------ FOOTNOTES:*This startling prediction came true with the eruption of Mt. St. Helens and more recently the "Tsunami," which occurred near India and Thailand. Current casualty stats estimate at least 180,000 deaths as a result of this alleged sub-oceanic quake..

THE OBJECT IN QUESTION
____________________________ *ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Additional information can be found at the following website(s):
THIS ARTICLE IS REFERENCED ON THE WEB AT http://www.uforc.com/news123104/uforc_Montgomery-EarthLights060304.html SEATTLE TIMES ARTICLE REFERENCED IN THIS RESEARCH: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001947342_meteor04m.html UFORC.COM ARCHIVES: http://uforc.com/news123104/uforc_SeattleTimes-Doughton_060304.html THE SEATTLE AREA TV STATION THAT REPORTED ON THE EVENT: http://www.kirotv.com/news/3376872/detail.html UFORC.COM ARCHIVES: http://uforc.com/news123104/uforc_KIROTV_060304.html IMAGE ARCHIVED: http://uforc.com/news123104/2001946960.jpg