The whole world is warmer, more clay

According to recent research by US scientists, when global average temperature increases, the frequency of lightning strikes also increases.

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Previous studies have shown that when it is hot, lightning will happen more often when it is cold, but people do not calculate it with every C increase in the world, how much the lightning will increase but only about 5-100%.

Picture 1 of The whole world is warmer, more clay
Lightning strike in Chicago, USA - (Photo: AP)

In the new study, scientist David Romps of the University of California (Berkeley, USA) and colleagues examined rainfall patterns and clouds of 11 different climate types. As a result, they found that the frequency of lightning strikes could increase to 50% in the next century when global temperatures rise.

Specifically in the United States, every C degree increases globally, the frequency of lightning strikes will increase by 12% compared to the current average.

More lightning also means more people will die, Romps said. He also estimates that the number of people hit by lightning every year in the US will increase from hundreds to nearly 1,000.

More lightning will also cause forest fires to occur more. Statistics show that among the annual forest fires, half are due to lightning strikes, and these are also the most difficult to control.

In addition, lightning strikes also produce more nitrogen oxide pollutants and alter the chemical properties of the atmosphere, affecting the global environment.

The study was published in the journal Science (USA) on November 13.

Current lightning strikes in the US occur about 25 million times / year, killing about 100 people and causing 1/2 forest fires nationwide.