Lightning Destroys Hundreds of Millions of Trees Annually, Study Reveals
Published: July 25, 2025 — by Marina Valigura
New research published in Global Change Biology and reported by Popular Science reveals that lightning strikes are responsible for the death of over 320 million trees each year worldwide—excluding trees lost to lightning-induced wildfires.
The study, conducted by a research team from the Technical University of Munich, developed a new mathematical model that combines data on global vegetation, forest structures, and atmospheric lightning activity. Unlike previous studies based on localized field observations, this model provides a much broader global estimate.
The findings are alarming: lightning is directly responsible for up to 2.9% of total global plant biomass loss each year. These numbers reflect only the immediate biological impact and do not account for fires ignited by lightning.
According to lead author Andreas Krause, understanding the full extent of tree loss caused by lightning is critical for assessing carbon emissions. The researchers estimate that lightning-induced tree deaths release between 0.77 and 1.09 billion tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to emissions from large-scale forest fires.
“With climate change accelerating, lightning events are expected to become more frequent,” Krause warned. “This means the threat to forests and carbon sinks will only grow. We must start integrating lightning as a significant driver in ecological and climate models.”
The study not only quantifies global tree loss but also identifies regions most affected by lightning damage, helping scientists refine projections related to carbon storage and forest resilience.
These insights will be vital in shaping future conservation strategies and climate response policies, especially in the context of increasing global temperatures and more volatile weather patterns.
In a related incident, at least 33 people were killed by lightning strikes in India during a week of intense monsoon storms—underscoring the human toll of growing extreme weather events.
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