Lightning ignites wildfires in dry forests
Lightning strikes, with their extreme heat, frequently ignite wildfires in dry forest understories, playing a vital ecological role while also intensifying with climate change.
Lightning strikes are a major natural cause of wildfires, especially in dry forest understories. These lower layers of the forest floor, filled with dead leaves and branches, become tinder-dry during hot weather. When lightning hits, its intense heat, up to 30,000 degrees Celsius, can instantly ignite this material, even if the storm brings little rain.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz