The number of lightning strikes in many Alpine regions has doubled in the last 40 years due to climate change, posing a significant threat to people, animals, and technological facilities. While the impact of global warming on extreme weather events such as heatwaves has been well-documented, the effects on local weather phenomena have been less explored. However, researchers at the University of Innsbruck have analyzed whether lightning strikes have become more frequent in the Alpine region due to climate change. Using lightning and weather data from the European Eastern Alps over the past decade, they were able to establish a link between specific weather conditions and lightning activity using artificial intelligence. They also reconstructed lightning data from the past four decades and found that the frequency of summer lightning strikes has increased significantly, particularly in the southern Alps, where it is now almost double what it was 40 years ago.
The researchers also found that lightning activity has increased in the high Alps, with the peak occurring a month earlier than before. The findings have practical implications, as lightning strikes can pose a significant threat to people, animals, and technological facilities in mountainous areas. The researchers suggest that new lightning rods that manipulate the paths of lightning with lasers could help protect against potential damage. The researchers attribute the increased number of lightning strikes and storms in the Alps to climate change and the resulting weather changes in the region. They found that rising temperatures due to climate change have led to a proportional increase in lightning strikes, which was surprising to them.
The study highlights the need for preventative measures to protect against the potential damage caused by lightning strikes in mountainous areas. The findings also underscore the importance of addressing climate change to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on local weather phenomena.
