Meteorologists recently made an exciting discovery: they observed tiny bursts of ultraviolet light emitted by trees during thunderstorms for the first time. This phenomenon, known as “corona,” occurs when a storm’s electrical charge generates an electric current in trees.
For years, scientists suspected this glowing effect existed, even simulating it in labs by charging small trees under metal plates. Patrick McFarland, a meteorologist from Pennsylvania State University, led a team that took their research outdoors to find concrete evidence. “We have seen it; we know it exists now,” he stated.
Thunderstorms are complex, with towering clouds filled with charged particles. When these charges build up significantly, they can create lightning. However, when the charge creeps up a tree, it doesn’t always lead to dramatic lightning bolts. Instead, it builds up in the leaves, creating a faint but visible corona of ultraviolet light.
To capture this light, McFarland’s team designed a weather station mounted on a Toyota Sienna. Using sensitive equipment, they recorded bursts of ultraviolet light from trees in North Carolina during a storm. Their findings revealed 41 distinct bursts, lasting from 0.1 to 3 seconds, hopping from leaf to leaf. Similar results were observed in loblolly pine trees along the East Coast.
Imagine a mesmerizing light show across treetops during a thunderstorm, with thousands of UV-flashing specks shimmering like fireflies. Each burst emitted about 100 billion photons at a wavelength of around 260 nanometers. Researchers believe that seeing this glow could change our understanding of trees’ interactions with storms.
The implications are wide-ranging. These coronae might play roles in removing hydrocarbons from the air and impacting tree health. Ongoing research is needed to understand how the electrical currents affect forests, especially as climate change increases thunderstorm activity.
Experts are now looking at how these electrical surges might impact tree health. Just like lightning can harm a tree, repeated electrical currents could damage branches or even affect forest ecology over time.
Published in Geophysical Research Letters, this study opens a new chapter in our understanding of how storms interact with the natural world. The team’s work highlights the need to further explore atmospheric chemistry and forest health in a changing climate.
For more information, you can read the full study here.
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