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Thunderstorms conjure ghostly coronae in treetops, observed outdoors for the first time
- February 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM
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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.
Originally published at Phys.org