When temperatures drop suddenly, trapped water can freeze and expand, splitting trunks with a gunshot-like sound
During the recent cold spell in the northern US, meteorologists issued warnings about exploding trees.
A tree’s first line of defence against freezing is its bark, which provides efficient insulation. In cold conditions, trees also enter a form of hibernation, with changes at a cellular level: cells dehydrate, harden and shrink, increasing their sugar concentration. This is the botanical equivalent of adding antifreeze, helping to prevent the formation of ice crystals.
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