Scientists just captured trees glowing with electricity during storms
Scientists captured faint electrical glows from treetops during a storm, a phenomenon known as corona discharge, which may help clean the air by breaking down pollutants. The observation was made by a team of Penn State researchers using a custom-built telescopic weather instrument.
A team of Penn State researchers captured faint electrical glows from treetops during a storm in North Carolina. The phenomenon, known as corona discharge, involves tiny bursts of electricity forming at the tips of leaves. The observation was made using a custom-built telescopic weather instrument extending from a modified minivan. The team recorded corona discharges on a sweetgum tree and a nearby long needle loblolly pine during a thunderstorm. The UV radiation generated by this process can break apart water vapor molecules, leading to the formation of hydroxyl, which may help clean the air. The findings were published in Geophysical Research Letters.
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