Overview
- A peer-reviewed study in Geophysical Research Letters reports the first direct field observations and measurements of weak corona discharges on treetops during storms.
- Using a modified 2013 Toyota Sienna with electric-field sensors and a UV camera, researchers documented near-invisible emissions that are drowned out in visible light.
- In a June 2024 storm in Pembroke, North Carolina, the team counted 41 UV flashes on leaf tips over 90 minutes, with glows lasting up to three seconds and hopping between leaves.
- Similar behavior was recorded on sweetgum and loblolly pine during multiple storms from Florida to Pennsylvania, indicating the phenomenon spans species and locations.
- Lab tests showed UV intensity scales with electrical current in trees, leaf tips can singe quickly, and researchers will probe how frequent events may affect canopy health and local atmospheric chemistry.