Do certain trees attract lightning?

Answer 1

As a person who fought wildfires for ten years, I think that I can say that at least in the conifer forests of the western US, and I suspect elsewhere, the tree species is unimportant but rather it's location. In the mountains, trees near the top of ridges or peaks are much more likely to be hit and often have the scars to prove it. Lone trees are more likely to be hit as well. One thing I definitely did notice is that lightning seems to have an affinity for dead trees, leading to lightning fires. I have no proof of this, just my observation and the corroboration of other fire fighters. Perhaps because sap is a poor conductor, the lack of it attracts the lightning.

Answer 2

Yes.

( lightning needs no fire to kill the trees. Hitting with jolts of ten to twenty thousand amperes-sometimes several hundred thousand, compared to fifteen amperes for the house- hold current-the lightning bolt literally electrocutes the trees. It has been known to kill 160 trees with a single bolt.

Trees which the lightning merely injures, flashing down inside the bark-the path of highest moisture and least resis tance-with heat of 15,000 to 60,000 degrees, soon fall prey to bark beetles. The beetles then go on to attack the healthy trees nearby.)
( trees were supposed to attract lightning-among them the walnut, locust)
Trees are frequent conductors of lightning to the ground. Since sap is a poor conductor, its electrical resistance causes it to be heated explosively into steam, which blows off the bark outside the lightning's path. In following seasons trees overgrow the damaged area and may cover it completely, leaving only a vertical scar. If the damage is severe, the tree may not be able to recover, and decay sets in, eventually killing the tree. Occasionally, a tree may explode completely, as in this Giant Sequoia struck in Geneva. It is commonly thought that a tree standing alone is more frequently struck, though in some forested areas, lightning scars can be seen on almost every tree.

Of all common trees the most frequently struck is the oak. It has a deep central root that goes beneath the tree, as well as hollow water-filled cells that run up and down the wood of the oak's trunk. These two qualities make oak trees better grounded and more conductive than trees with shallow roots and closed cells.

Answer 3

Lightning is fascinated in the tallest factor (often steel). cities often have lightning rods on precise of tall homes to entice the lightning faraway from any factor that would desire to be harmed. while you're status in a barren field with a steel rod, likelihood is you would be struck. besides the shown fact that, it would not advise instantly you will die. there are lots of people who've survived a lightning strike - yet that would not advise pass out and do it, there's a intense danger you will die! And it rather hurts/burns.

Answer 4

Lightening is basically electricity and electricity always takes the path of least resistance. For example electricity can pass through metal easier then air but it has a real hard time passing through rubber and glass. I don't know for sure but it might be able to pass through one kind of wood easier then another kind. The tallest things around lightening are the first things in it's path.

Answer 5

There is an old poem that says which trees do but I can only remember part of it that goes Beware the ash, it draws the lash. Beware the oak, it draws the stroke. Maybe you can look up the rest.

Answer 6

Yes, the Willow's and Sycamore trees, their roots are usually near a water source.

Answer 7

Lightning always stirke the things which are tall and close unleess very powerful .powerful ones go straight . tall tress are often struk by lightning.

Answer 8

jaws65 has the best partial answer. the tallest, healthiest trees, with the greatest root span have the greatest amount phloem, therefore creating a liquid type conductor straight to ground.

Answer 9

Yes. Tall ones.

Answer 10

around here I don't think lightning prejudices any tree