Summary

Chapter 31

Hurricanes often flatten commercial spruce and pine plantations. Natural forests are more resilient, but if there is a wind that suddenly changes direction they may be taken down too. The trees have not developed defensive mechanisms against events so rare. Some branches are struck off by heavy rains because they grow out horizontally and then up rather than out, up, out more, and then down slightly. Though, in some conditions, even the ideally structured branches break. When snow is very wet, it is very heavy. And sometimes it becomes so cold outside while fog hangs in the air, that ice suddenly clings to everything – also creating a lot of weight. Trees with smooth bark are less often harmed by lightning because the water running down their trunks diverts the electricity. The ones with rough bark are often split open when...