Do Trees Know a Storm Is Coming? The Science of Plant Sensing
Do Trees Know a Storm Is Coming? The Science of Plant Sensing
US · Published Oct 1, 2025
Plants can sense changes in atmospheric pressure, electrical fields, and volatile organic compounds, indicating an approaching storm.
Trees may close stomata to conserve water and protect themselves from storm damage.
Plants may communicate impending storms through volatile organic compounds, triggering defensive responses in neighboring plants.
Plants' ability to sense approaching storms
For centuries, humans have looked to nature for signs of impending weather changes. From animals behaving erratically to subtle shifts in the wind, the natural world often provides clues that a storm is brewing. But what about plants? Can trees and other vegetation sense an approaching storm? The answer, it turns out, is a complex and fascinating area of scientific inquiry.
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