What effects on nature is caused by lightning?

Lightning strikes are the number two cause of forest fires. In the American Southwest, about half of forest fires are started by lightning. Lightning causes an average of 20 forest fires a day in the United States. Most of these fires go out on their own. Forest fires caused by lightning are usually 10 times stronger than fires caused by humans. About 100 lightning blots hit the Earth every second. Lightning strikes often hit trees and water. Lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun. This heat causes the air to rapidly shake and vibrate, which is what we hear as thunder. Lightning is one of the most dangerous natural things. We can't really do anything to reduce lightning, but we can always be safe from it.