Lightning Trees--Experience?

treeseer

I'm researching the management of lightning-struck trees for an article and would love to hear about/see any experience you have with them. If you have pics please have a hi res copy so they can be published. Of course I will attribute any contributions!

Eric Frei

Guy

Didn't we do this about 6 months ago?

I think you even had a pic of a metal box/cable bolted to the head of a pine tree down in Melbourne.

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Drouin Tree Service

I dont think its a big deal personally,Sometimes they live sometimes they die...Manage the hazard Guy dont sell removals!!! Just kidding....

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

treeseer

Are there standards in oz for the installation of lightning protection systems?

In the USA we have one supplier that dominates the market, and does a good job. Who sells the material in oz?

"Sometimes they live sometimes they die" Ah Jason i know you are kidding; people and trees are not that simple.

Eric Frei

Standards!

Dont think so, just whip down to Ideal Electrical and grab some cable ... she be right.

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treestyle

i've even seen alfoil and copper wire used

Sean Freeman

Guy there is a standard here AS/NZS 1768:2007(Lightning protection) which applies to trees just as it does to buildings, I don't have a copy since its not something Stephen's company offers..I have worked with companies in Brisbane that offer lightning protection and they have occaisionally installed it on very significant trees....I'm thinking perhaps Trev might have done some down South? I'll ask around and see what response I get.

treeseer

Thanks! I've got to wrap up this piece by this weekend, so please do post what you can find out.

Eric Frei

I searched (thanks Sean) but couldn't get any docs without paying.

So no specs on what exactly is required.

Seems to be an expensive document as it also covers electrical wiring and cut outs for circuit protection etc.

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treeseer

Yeah that's all I could find too. o well. Still, any pics of interesting systems or lightning struck trees could fit.

mdvaden

Oddly, I've only seen one to date - in Hoyt Arboretum in Portland, Oregon.


This is lookingup at 40 feet or so of a taller wound. This is theshade side / north, so sunburn is ruled out. Must be lightning.


High part of Portland & tall tree. Douglas fir or Grand fir if I recall right.

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treeseer

Ha! I already got that one. The strike is 25 years old, according to staff. I use that one as a demo for bark tracing. That scar tissue is growing so thick because it followed the torn bark. If they had trimmed it, it may have just grown over the wood and moved more quick and less thick.

There's another doug fir behind the visitors center with a strike only 8 years old. scarring over fast, healthy crown unlike that older one by the trail in your pic.