A new study from the Technical University of Munich has revealed a previously underestimated impact of lightning strikes on global forests, estimating that approximately 320 million trees die annually due to direct strikes. The research, published in the journal “Global Change Biology”, utilized an enhanced vegetation model that incorporates regional variations and their influence on carbon storage.
The study’s findings indicate that these tree losses release between 770 and 1,090 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. This amount is comparable to the carbon emissions resulting from the burning of living plant matter during wildfires.
Currently, tropical regions are experiencing the most significant impact. However, researchers caution that climate change is projected to increase lightning frequency in mid-latitude areas as well, potentially extending the reach of this phenomenon.
Importantly, the study’s calculations exclusively address the direct impact of lightning strikes on trees and do not account for fires ignited by lightning. The research was funded by the German Research Foundation.