Scientists discovered that the primary cause of fires resembling those observed in some regions of Canada this summer is lightning.

These forests trap carbon that warms the planet, slowing down climate change.

More lightning might start a vicious cycle because burning trees and soil release carbon dioxide, which warms the atmosphere and increases storm activity and lightning.

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Over the past 20 years, there has been a global decline in the total number of fires, but outside of the tropics, there has been a noticeable increase in fires in heavily forested areas.

Lightning-started forest fires
Canada had an unprecedented fire season this year, with over 6,500 fires that burned almost 18 million acres.