A new study from the Technical University of Munich has revealed a significant, previously underestimated, impact of lightning strikes on global forest health. Researchers estimate that approximately 320 million trees worldwide die annually due to direct lightning strikes.
The study, published in the journal “Global Change Biology” and funded by the German Research Foundation, employed an advanced vegetation model incorporating regional variations and the implications for carbon storage. This refined approach highlights a substantial and often overlooked, influence of lightning on forest ecosystems.
The resulting tree loss releases an annual amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere ranging from 770 to 1,090 million tons. This quantity is comparable to the carbon emissions generated by the combustion of living plants in wildfires. Current projections indicate that tropical regions are experiencing the most significant impact, but climate change is anticipated to increase lightning frequency even in mid-latitude zones.
Importantly, the research team emphasizes that their calculations only account for direct lightning-induced tree mortality. They do not include losses resulting from wildfires triggered by lightning strikes, suggesting the overall impact is likely even greater. Further investigation is warranted to fully assess the complex interplay between climate change, lightning activity and forest carbon dynamics.
