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4h ago

First Direct Observations of Tree Corona Discharges During Thunderstorms

A Penn State team used an ultraviolet camera on a storm‑chasing van to document corona discharges, linking their glow to electrical currents measured in lab trees.

Coronae glow on the tips of spruce needles, induced by charged metal plates in a laboratory. These weak electric discharges subtly singe the tips of leaves and needles, and new observations indicate they may occur ubiquitously across treetops under thunderstorms. (Credit: William Brune)

Overview

  • The peer‑reviewed study reports the first confirmed field detection and measurement of weak electrical corona discharges on trees during real thunderstorms.
  • Researchers documented UV glows on multiple species along the U.S. East Coast in summer 2024, including 41 events on leaf tips over 90 minutes in Pembroke, North Carolina.
  • Coronae were visible only in ultraviolet, with glows lasting up to three seconds and often hopping from leaf to leaf, suggesting many leaves could flash under a storm.
  • Laboratory experiments showed the UV emission scales with electrical current in trees, indicating the glow could serve as a proxy for current flow and potential damage.
  • Leaf tips can burn within seconds during corona events, and the team plans ecological studies to test whether repeated discharges meaningfully affect canopies or tree traits.