Why the Odisha government will plant palm trees to combat lightning strikes

Why the Odisha government will plant palm trees to combat lightning strikes

Sub: Geo

Sec: Climatology

Context:

The Special Relief Commissioner’s office has approved Rs 7 crore for the proposed plan. The state has banned the felling of existing palm trees and 19 lakh palm trees will initially be planted on the boundaries of the forests.

What is lightening?

It is a rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere some of which is directed towards earth.

Why Odisha is more prone to lightning strikes?

• The highest number of cloud-to-lightning (CG) strikes occur in eastern and central India according to the Annual Lightning Report 2023-2024, published by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Odisha is an eastern coastal state situated in the tropical zone, with its hot, dry climate presenting the perfect blend of conditions for lightning strikes.
• Odisha is particularly susceptible because of its complex combination of climatic factors which influence the occurrence of lightning including pre-monsoon and monsoon period, cyclonic activities influenced by sea temperature and the convective energy of the atmosphere.
• A research paper titled “Climate Change and Incidence of Lightning in Odisha: An Exploratory Research”, published by the IMD in 2021 further establishes the role of climate change in exacerbating lightning strikes, with a nearly 10 per cent increase in lightning activity resulting from every one degree Celsius of long-term warming.

How palm tree planation will help?

Palm trees are uniquely suited to be lightning conductors because of their height among other trees. They contain high moisture and sap, can absorb lightning and reduce its direct impact on the ground.