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Lightning Strikes 320 Million Trees, Boosting CO2 Emissions

7/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study from Germany's Technical University of Munich uncovers a startling truth: lightning strikes down about 320 million trees each year, releasing nearly 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As climate change intensifies, the danger to forests, particularly in northern regions, looms larger than ever.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study from Germany's Technical University of Munich uncovers a startling truth: lightning strikes down about 320 million trees each year, releasing nearly 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As climate change intensifies, the danger to forests, particularly in northern regions, looms larger than ever.