New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- Summary Climate change will increase lightning-induced wildfires, which already account for nearly half of all wildfires in Canada.

As vegetation and lightning strikes rise, more extensive burnt areas are expected.

This can overwhelm fire management efforts.

The trend is mirrored in the US and Europe, where lightning also triggers significant wildfires.

Lightning-induced fires contribute to almost half of all the wildfires and over 90 per cent of the burnt area in Canadian forests, scientists have found.

The effects of climate change, they warned in a study conducted from 2000 through 2020, will result in increased frequency of such instances, as vegetation cover and lightning strikes are expected to rise.

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