All articles tagged with #corona discharge
Field observations in North Carolina recorded 859 corona events on a sweetgum and 93 on a loblolly pine during a thunderstorm, marking the first natural confirmation of corona discharges in trees. Using a UV-sensitive Corona Observing Telescope System, researchers linked leaf-tip discharges to hydroxyl production and potential atmospheric cleansing, while noting questions about tree health and ecological impacts.
Using a UV camera mounted on a research vehicle, scientists captured hundreds of tiny corona discharges glowing along treetops during thunderstorms, showing that nearly every leaf can glow under a storm’s electric field; each corona carries about a microamp of current and produces hydroxyl radicals that can scrub pollutants but may also damage leaves, with potential implications for forest chemistry and even storm dynamics, observed across multiple storms and tree species and reported in Geophysical Research Letters by Penn State researchers led by P. J. McFarland.
Nature’s March image showcase highlights striking science visuals—from expansion microscopy of green algae and sleeping parasites to the first satellite-tracked leatherback turtle, a global river network mapped from 1.7 million observations, glowing coronae on tree tips, a chocolate slime mold, and AI-driven outdoor robots.