I smell spring

I have always been fascinated with the changing of seasons. Every year it happens but one of the biggest noticeable changes is the transformation of leaves. I did some research on how this transformation works, and why. Although researchers have been studying leaves and their color changes for a long time there is still not a full understanding of the process. Scientists have agreed on some of the factors that affect the leaves change, some being, leaf pigment, type of tree, weather, and the length of night.
In creating autumn colors there are three pigments that trees use to create what we see the fall season.
1. Chlorophyll- green
2. Carotenoids- yellow, orange, and brown
3. Anthocyanins- red, and purple

Plants and trees use chlorophyll to capture sunlight and use that sunlight for photosynthesis. During growing season/Spring there is more sunlight and that abundance of chlorophyll is what makes the plants so green. Once plants start getting less light during the day the chlorophyll content recedes and the other pigments become more evident. All trees have different characteristics and each one has certain colors that its leaves change to each fall.

Oak- red and brown
Dogwood- purplish red
Red maple- bright scarlet
Black maple- bright yellow
Aspen- golden yellow
Birch- golden yellow


http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fs/colors/colors.htm