Lightning kills 320M trees yearly

According to a new study published in Global Change Biology, lightning destroys approximately 320 million trees worldwide each year, far more than scientists previously thought.

Researchers from the Technical University of Munich combined field surveys with global lightning data to reach the estimate. 

Trees killed directly by lightning strikes release around one billion tons of carbon dioxide annually—roughly equal to Japan’s emissions. 

Scientists warn the threat could intensify as hotter, more humid conditions fuel more lightning, especially in northern forests. 

While the tropics, particularly Africa, remain the most affected today, climate models project increases in strikes at higher latitudes. 

Researchers emphasize that lightning is an often-overlooked factor in forest loss and climate change that warrants closer monitoring.