Speaking of lightning.....

[Reed]

Hey TreeTex, guess what?

That elm we bailed out of yesterday - was struck right after we left!!

This morning they pointed out that as we loaded-up and split, the big bolt that jolted us hit the hackberry in the back yard. 30 seconds later one hit right where you were tied-in. There were a few extra limbs on the ground when I got there this morning. A few shreds of bark ripped off the trunk. Wonder if she'll survive?

Good thing we were thirsty and needing beer huh?

Beer is good. Real good. Long live beer.

 

[TREETX]

F! F! F! F!

That makes 4 trees this week. The pruning job I did monday went great with one exception, a storm came through 2 hours after I left and took the tops out of the 2 elms and uprooted an oak.

Now this monster elm gets struck after the time we spend pruning it. All of that swinging around that akward wide thing and BAM, damage if not death to the tree. Plus I managed to nick my spliced line.

The tree in the backyard got struck just as we were pulling away from the property. Close enough it had me ducking, swerving, and jittery when we stopped at the gas station.

Dumping rain here again today. Beats the 100+ days last week.

Oh yeah, long live beer.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i had the willies one time when the boss showed me a take down for a pool installation and we came back 4 days later and a V crothcing had given away on a main. Where high column center once stood, was now sky blue...... There where no storms.

Here in the lightning capital, we must step aside often theis time of year.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

There has been some research on lightning strikes in veteran trees in the UK. There is a possibility that the lightning changes the tree's makeup which helps to preserve the tree into old age.

There is a thread on this forum for more info:

http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/atfdiscuss/discuss.asp


Since scientists agree that lightning has the potential to zap primeval soup and create something new, maybe life, what is the possibility that it does something to the arboreal soup?

Glad to hear that you boys are OK. That's too close for comfort!

The next thing you know, there will be an ANSI reg that we have to have ropes that will act as grounds. I wonder how if might be to climb on copper fiber?

Tom

 

[heartland]

Ok - I'll open myself up for a bit of ribbing here, I'm sure.... but I'll ask for the sake of discussion:

wrt lightning, what signs do you look for to determine that it is time to get out of the tree??

All kidding about beer breaks aside, you guys had some inclination that led you out of that tree and I'd like to hear about them.

Thanks!

 

[TREETX]

At the top of that elm, with San Antonio miles over the hills behind me, Main street Boerne below me, and miles of the hill country infront of me, I could see it all coming in from the hill country for about 30 minutes before we packed it up. It got closer and closer until I finally got down and we headed out for cover.

If at the beginning of this week I had the healthy respect for lightning that I have now, I would have been down when I first saw the lightning bolts and black clouds. After all, I was thirsty before the storm rolled in.

Lightning seems so random that I have never really worried about it before.

 

[Reed]

Nate is right - and so is Dan. We could see ahead of the storm and certainly hear it, but the storms we get this time of year (AND THEY ARE MOST WELCOME) deliver lightning ahead of the main washing machine - due partly (I'm assuming) to the rapid roll and growth of the cumulonimbus clouds - friction and lot's of it. There was rumbling and tumbling, but the strike we narrowly avoided came after nothing and before nothing in particular - just ominous clouds and darkness...suddenly..BOOM. Right THERE, right where we were and it wasn't a small bolt, it was HUGE and bright.

I cleared the hackberry today that took the hit - it burned not the cambium or affected the bark - it burned a channel down through the dead center of the tree (3' dba). Never have seen that before. The elm Nate was in took a top hit and channeled down the exterior off and on - visable and not - to the ground. I think wind after we left took the largest toll - which sucked from my viewpoint because I had to deal with it and they thought it was part of the tree bid originally. Ah well, we're alive and it still was a lucrative job, again, thanks Nate.

Florida does have lightning experience - when it's looming, get the hell outta the tree and AWAY from the root zone - get away from all the trees and get in the cab of the truck. It doesn't matter how close to being done you are, or what jobs remain, just exit.

When asked about what we felt should dictate our leaving that job when we did? I'd still have to opt for being thirsty and wanting to swim in the Guadalupe. Life is good, no reason to postpone it for a few more limbs and a couple extra bucks.

 

[Reed]

I heard about that too Tom, lightning going both ways insofar as tree response. I have a giant pecan out in the middle of forty acres of shortgrass - have watched it get hit numerous times over the years by lightning going both up to the clouds and coming down from the clouds. It's never lost so much as a limb. It's a non-native about 85 years old, produces a succulent nut no one can I.D. (there are many experts around here) and produces in years other varieties are loath to nut. Even as many pecans underneath have opportunity to germinate - nothing else grows near or under this tree.

I should go hang out under it more. Maybe smoke some of those leaves, huh?

Always know there is more to things than someone would have us believe. After all, they are just someone. Things are much older. WE gotta long way to go.

 

[geofore]

lightning strikes

Lightning can get to you 14-17 miles out in front of a storm system and the sky can be clear where you are. If you can hear thunder it's time to think about getting out of the tree, if you can see lightning it's time to be out of the tree. Hit twice closing cyclone fence gates in rain storms, locking the gates to go home.

 

[Reed]

Gates are nasty and spooky during a blast. I always just think I could be fast enough to "let go" when a strike hits. Wishful thinking at best, huh?

Remember those fences are sometimes miles long.

Down here out in the fields, the rule of thumb is pay attention to the hairs on your back - hit the dirt when your eyelashes tingle. So never shave your backs you neanderthals - that fur might save your life someday!

 

[Jumper]

Wow! Maybe on of those lightening indicators they use on playing fields might be a wise purchase?? I had heard about the hair on the back warning. I still remember sitting in the kitchen at the farm and the lightning came right inside on the wires and blew apart the old wooden screw handled telephone while we sat there. Another time it struck the neighbour's brick chimney at my parents and destroyed into little bits the top fifteen feet. Both strikes were a little too close for comfort!

 

[geofore]

pine tree ground

I can't buy the story of pines taking the hits before hardwood, across the street from my house used to be a blue spruce and a maple, the maple took two hits and the pine untouched, both 75' tall, 40' apart. Both gone now, new house going up on the lot in a few weeks. The best strike on a group of trees I've ever seen was the one that hit the black cherry's in Lou's yard. Three trees with hollows in them filled with water when they were hit they exploded as the water turned to steam, there were pieces of trees on the roof of the houses 100 yards away. What a blast, left two foot stumps where there used to be 75' trees and 2"x2"x1' splintery pieces in the street and in the surounding lawns, hanging on the electric wires, what a mess.

 

[monkeypuzzle]

Theres an older tree man I know who lost a son to lightning. I just thought about it and don't know any details,but will look into it. About 35-40 years ago,befor my time.

The older son is still running the tree service. Very sour bunch of folks, which is too bad, can't talk trees with'em.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

We seem to see pines drawing more lightning in than oaks. If a pine is hit close to the house (5'?) it seems more likely to jump in through gutter or any metal strip on eave most likely.

One time striking a pine at the foot of the driveway and following the rebar into the garage fuse panel/house. Even popped pieces of concrete out, some to the rebar, in a line from tree into garage; as customer pointed out. He lost TV etc.

i have oft wondered if pine sap was more conductive electrically, some people call'em lightning rods down here; and they say we are the lightning capital.

They say there are all diffrent strengths of strikes, sometimes flash boiling the tree dry and igniting it; some hits are said to be 7x hotter than the sun on some scale. Worst thing (aside from, being struck stupid) is getting bluffed out, closed down and clear sailing available, as everyone is headed home; getting help to turn around can be tough. Sometimes fun to watch, depends on your perspective! Trying to hold it together after shutting it down for the 3rd time that day, gets old too. But best; to play along; not to mess or tempt, such a truly higher power; in every respect of the enphrasement. We have plenty of golf courses for people to prove this all on; in addition to being a 'hot' spot.

i saw a tv cable lady testing a downed cable after storm with the hairs on the back of her arm before touching the downed wire. Saying that any real voltage would give enough static charge to make the hairs stand on the back of the arm, as per her training. i've been close enogh to high power line to smell it and feel the sweat tingling from the power. Bad Stuff!

:alien:

 

[Stumper]

I suspect that there are a couple of things going on in the Pine/oak strike frequency ratio. One is water content-The amount of water in green pine is greater than in an equal diameter piece of green Live oak. I'd also bet that the Pines tend to be taller than the oaks in Lakeland. Yes? Has anyone ever seen a spruce lightning struck? They have a reputation for being a "safe" tree. I can't recall ever working on one that had been scarred by lightning. Pines on the other hand.....I've seen 24"dbh trees blown to flinders!