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.
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