so annoying that 2:42 is the only time you can see it

Same, turned my brightness up as high as possible and still saw nothing.

Well it is verified that lightning started the fires. So beam or no, it was lightning.

That's a very big, very silly assumption. What is your elevator pitch for a curved earth? (Don't mention planes or light houses or extreme long distance shooting, because non of those would work)

Hm.. perhaps.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostationary_orbit

A geostationary orbit, also referred to as a geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO), is a circular geosynchronous orbit 35,786 kilometres (22,236 miles) above Earth's equator and following the direction of Earth's rotation.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosynchronous_orbit

A geosynchronous orbit (sometimes abbreviated GSO) is an Earth-centered orbit with an orbital period that matches Earth's rotation on its axis, 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds (one sidereal day). The synchronization of rotation and orbital period means that, for an observer on Earth's surface, an object in geosynchronous orbit returns to exactly the same position in the sky after a period of one sidereal day. Over the course of a day, the object's position in the sky may remain still or trace out a path, typically in a figure-8 form, whose precise characteristics depend on the orbit's inclination and eccentricity.

A special case of geosynchronous orbit is the geostationary orbit, which is a circular geosynchronous orbit in Earth's equatorial plane. A satellite in a geostationary orbit remains in the same position in the sky to observers on the surface. Popularly or loosely, the term geosynchronous may be used interchangeably with geostationary.

Communications satellites are often given geostationary or close to geostationary orbits so that the satellite antennas that communicate with them do not have to move, but can be pointed permanently at the fixed location in the sky where the satellite appears.

Seems that for the potential satellite in question to remain in the same spot above Oregon for the entire duration of the beaming, it would need to be geostationary. It also appears however, that this may only be possible when the satellite is positioned directly over the equator. Maybe I'm not reading all this stuff correctly, but it sounds like geosynchronous satellites that are not positioned over the equator will move some throughout the course of the day, which would cause the angle of the beam as seen in the animation to change some over time.

Am I doing this right?

The idea is that they use the upper atmosphere as a mirror. At the right wavelength, it is theoretically possible.

Very true. However, can an infrared beam be bounced (refracted) off the ionosphere similar to radio waves?

Surface temp (warm water)feeds a tropical disturbance. Hurricanes will move wherever the barometric pressure is the lowest. Highs & troughs sheer it, not move the hurricane.

Do convection currents not create a difference in air pressure?

Thanks. Do you happen to have that data 4chan/pol put together about the Paradise, CA fires a few years ago?

All I see is gender reveal fireworks being set off.

I think it is more about levels of buoyancy or density, not so much a gravitational force

2 points:

1. Satellites are constantly "falling" they aren't floating or held up. They are positioned at a certain height so due to the curve of the earth they continue to stay at the same relative height. It's like one of those coin race machines where the coin goes around and around the funnel. Eventually all satellites fall to earth.

2. Gravity is very weak. Look at how easily you can you can jump off the ground. Your legs are more powerful than the gravitational force of the entire earth. Perhaps it's that gravity isn't intuitive to you?

If you believe Elon Musk (gangbang WTF?!) you are a big part of the problem

You can see lights in the sky

When looking for satellites, consider the position of the sun. Satellites reflect the sun.