During thunderstorms, treetops do more than sway dramatically, trees glow with electricity!
Researchers have now captured faint ultraviolet flashes, called corona discharges, flickering from leaf tips during storms, the first confirmed observation of this phenomenon in a natural setting.
⚡These small electrical discharges occur when a storm’s electric field concentrates around sharp plant structures.
➡️ The energy can generate reactive molecules that break down certain air pollutants, meaning forests may have an overlooked, weather‑activated role in atmospheric chemistry.
We do not yet know how much this contributes at the scale of an entire forest or region. But it’s a reminder that plants are not just passive scenery, but part of the planet’s air‑cleaning circuitry.
Reference:
P. J. McFarland, W. H. Brune, D. O. Miller, J. M. Jenkins. Corona Discharges Glow on Trees Under Thunderstorms. Geophysical Research Letters, 2026; 53 (4)