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Lightning Is A Surprising Tree Killer

August 13, 2025Updated: August 13, 2025, 5:49 pm EDTPublished: August 13, 2025, 5:49 pm EDT

Using new data modeling techniques, experts have concluded that lightning kills at least 320 million trees every year. The figure is much higher than previously thought. The study from Global Change Biology revealed that one billion tons of carbon dioxide are released annually from tree deaths related to lightning. As climate change increases, experts expect that number to rise.

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