Re: A challenge dying tree branch

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "davep by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <davep-at-quik-dot-com>

>I would agree about the heating part with the pumpkin
>>but with the branch....
>>that another thing.  The contact with the branch was
>>at the very end of the branch but the effects are

>>causing the whole branch to die off ( all 15' of it
>>...its an oak tree ...  a very old oak tree with big
>>branches :)   )  
 
> Not a voltage but rf current that builds its
> discharging path tru the poor vegetable I guess.


	Tend to concur.
	Tree limbs (and trunks) are mostly live AT THE
	EDGE/Circumference.  That's where the water is,
	that's where the nutrients are, that's where
	the growing and life (mostly...) is.

	Without getting into skin effects, the current
	will try to flow where it can: minerals in water.
	The youngest, outermost layer of the tree.

	RF heat THAT and the limb is (you should pardon
	the expression....):
		toast.

	thus:

>Most of trees contain water in branches-they got 
> sort of microscopic channels more conductive.That
> sudden current pulses cause electromechanical damages
> in harder parts of wood,

	I would suspect most of the damage is to _soft_
	bits, just under the bark, where the water and
	etc are.


> and development of long term poisonous

	I'd suspect simply damaging the cell walls is
	sufficient.


> Have you ever gave a though why some trees "explode"
> being hit by lightening and not seriously burned down
> in  same time? 
	Different trees have different internal structures

	and water distribution.  Also, large trees can
	handle more current (eg: branch dies, trunk, not).
	I've seen trees in the California mountains with
	lighting channels down one side, the rest is more or
	less healthy.  (tho not, presumably, so healthy as
	an unstruck tree...)

	best
	dwp

...the net of a million lies...
	Vernor Vinge
There are Many Web Sites which Say Many Things.
	-me