Unveiling the Mystery of 'Exploding Trees': A Winter Phenomenon Debunked
Have you ever heard of 'exploding trees' and wondered what they are? Well, get ready to have your curiosity satisfied, but brace yourself for a bit of controversy! As winter storms roll in across the United States, social media has been abuzz with warnings about these so-called 'exploding trees'. But here's the thing: they're not actually exploding, at least not in the way you might think. So, what's the truth behind this winter phenomenon?
John Seiler, a professor and tree physiology specialist at Virginia Tech, stumbled upon a sweet cherry tree with a jagged scar running along its trunk, and he knew immediately what it was. This scar was the aftermath of what social media has dubbed a 'tree explosion'. But Seiler clarifies that what some people call 'tree explosions' are actually 'frost cracks'. These occur when temperatures drop suddenly or trees don't have time to adjust to the cold, and the sap or water inside starts to freeze. This freezing process causes the water to expand, putting intense pressure on the bark and wood, which can sometimes crack or split apart, producing a loud bang that may sound like an explosion.
Seiler explains that these 'explosions' are more like a gunshot or a really loud crack. He uses the example of a cold Coke can splitting open when forgotten in the freezer. While these events are loud, they're not dangerous. Wood doesn't go flying, and the tree itself isn't killed. However, the split bark can make the tree vulnerable to insects and infections from fungi or bacteria. Additionally, Doug Aubrey, a professor at the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, notes that if the bottom of a stem freezes, the entire tree might die, but this depends on the species. Freezing in a branch might kill everything on that branch but leave the tree alive.
During winter storms, there's a higher risk of heavy branches falling from trees due to the weight of ice or snow. A heavy tree branch could harm a home, a vehicle, or even a person. Seiler agrees that people should be more worried about heavy ice accumulation on trees, which could cause branches to fall or the tops of trees to snap. So, while 'exploding trees' might sound scary, they're not actually exploding. Instead, they're a result of frost cracks caused by sudden temperature drops and freezing sap or water. So, the next time you hear about 'exploding trees', remember that they're not actually exploding, and be more concerned about heavy ice accumulation on trees during winter storms.
