Thunderstorms Spark Ghostly Treetop Coronae, First Seen

For the first time, researchers have observed and measured weak electrical discharges, known as coronae, on trees during thunderstorms. A new study describes the near-invisible sparkles appearing similarly on branches of several tree species up and down the U.S. East Coast during the summer of 2024, implying that thunderstorms may paint entire canopies with a scintillating blue glow, albeit too faintly for human eyes to see.

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You probably won’t be able to see the coronae with the naked eye, but you might notice little burnt tips on pine needles.

Bubblecar said:

You probably won’t be able to see the coronae with the naked eye, but you might notice little burnt tips on pine needles.

Impressive most impressive.

No shortage of science.

The electrical properties will be interesting.