Environmental News Network - Lightning Less Likely as Planet Warms, Study Finds

Details: By University of Edinburgh; 12.Feb

Lightning may strike less often in future across the globe as the planet warms, a scientific study suggests.

The research forecasts a 15 per cent drop in the average number of lightning flashes worldwide by the turn of this century, if global temperatures are in the top range of forecasts.

Broad impact

A drop in the incidence of lightning strikes could impact on the frequency of wildfires, especially in tropical regions.

It could also lower the incidence of lightning strikes to infrastructure and affect how greenhouse gases in the atmosphere contribute to climate change.

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Lightning Less Likely as Planet Warms, Study Finds