STORM2K

After living in the mountains for over 38 years, something just dawned on me I have never seen an Aspen tree struck by lightning or signs of a strike Now does the same apply to Berch trees also? Just curious, does anyone know why? It's pretty sad, we do environmental impact studies etc and Michelle has a BS in Forest Managment and neither of us know the answer.....we've done research on the internet, gone to the U of A website, NAU School of Forestry website and no one seems to know????

Dennis

I don't think I know either..

Lightning striking trees? The density of the tree makes one more subseptable to lightning strikes. I heard this on a TLC special. Pine Trees are the most common tree struck by lightning due to being less dense then an Oak, Aspen, ect.
I'm sure there have been Aspen trees hit by lightning, but aren't they more common in mountainous areas? The height of a tree is also a common attraction.

BarometerBob wrote:Lightning striking trees? The density of the tree makes one more subseptable to lightning strikes. I heard this on a TLC special. Pine Trees are the most common tree struck by lightning due to being less dense then an Oak, Aspen, ect.
I'm sure there have been Aspen trees hit by lightning, but aren't they more common in mountainous areas? The height of a tree is also a common attraction.

Thanks Bob! Makes sense to me! Yes.....aspens are commonly found at elevations of 6,000' + and higher, now at elevations above 8,000'+ the only conifers you will find are Douglas Firs, Colorado Blue Spruce....the Ponderosa Pines are limited to elevations between 5000' and 8000'.....Ponderosa Pines, by my observations in the field, *seem* to be the Main lightning rods per si`, although I have seen Douglas Firs split right down the middle as if a chain chain had been taken to them. I'm sure Aspens have been *hit* before, I've just never seen any evidence of a strike! Native Aspens in the right environment ie, water, shelter etc, will tower to heights of 70'+, while Ponderosas, Douglas Firs will tower to a height of 100+'.....although rare these days with the thinning projects underway.



Dennis

WELL.....I was sitting, listening to the scanner yesterday evening when a report of a lightning strike came over the Forestnet frequency, and GUESS what got struck? YES......a ASPEN tree, wouldn't ya know it, 7 DAYS since I posted this question and it happens!

Dennis

BarometerBob wrote:Lightning striking trees? The density of the tree makes one more subseptable to lightning strikes. I heard this on a TLC special. Pine Trees are the most common tree struck by lightning due to being less dense then an Oak, Aspen, ect.
I'm sure there have been Aspen trees hit by lightning, but aren't they more common in mountainous areas? The height of a tree is also a common attraction.

Amen to the Pine Trees. I saw one get struck. Funny thing is it only turned a section of the tree brown. Did not kill it. Pine trees will also re-invent itself after being in a forest fire.

I had a Pecan tree get struck by lightning, did not survive it either. I thought a bomb had went off and it split the tree in two.