Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

Many people look forward to all the colors of autumn. With all the various shades of oranges, reds, and yellows surrounding us, it is really no surprise! But have you ever thought about why tree leaves change colors from summer to fall and back again? Continue reading to finally put an answer to this very common nature question.

Photosynthesis

Why does a maple leaf turn bright red? And why does the oak leaf turn yellow and orange? Where do these colors come from? The answer of course is, photosynthesis. You may remember learning about photosynthesis as a child, but it may be time for a brush up. Leaves produce and distribute food for trees by deriving water from the ground and carbon dioxide from the air. Trees then use sunlight to change water and CO2 into oxygen and glucose: two essential elements trees need to survive. Without glucose and oxygen, trees lack energy and growth potential. And the process of turning water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose is called photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll

So what does photosynthesis have to do with leaves changing color in the fall? Well, a chemical called chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis to take place. And it is this chemical that gives leaves their green color. When the days start to get shorter, trees have a biological instinct prepare for winter. During this preparation process, trees will begin to shut down their food production because there is simply not enough sunlight during the day for photosynthesis to happen. This means the green chlorophyll disappears in leaves. When the chlorophyll is gone, the result is a different color leaf. Trapped glucose is what causes the shades of red, while yellows and oranges are simply what lay underneath all the chlorophyll.

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