Forests in fall are bursting with color!
Leaves that are green in spring and summer turn orange, yellow, and red.
So here’s a curious question: Why do leaves change color in fall?
Why do leaves change color in fall?
It’s all to do with a green pigment in the leaves called chlorophyll.
chlorophyll
This green chlorophyll is good at absorbing sunlight, a process that gives plants the energy they need to grow.
So leaves are green in spring and summer, because this is when they produce chlorophyll to absorb sunlight.
When summer turns to fall, there is less sunlight and the leaves stop producing chlorophyll.
As the chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears… and other pigments, which can be yellow, red, or orange, show through in the leaves.
So, now you know: in spring and summer, leaves produce a green pigment called chlorophyll.
In fall, the leaves stop producing chlorophyll and lose their green color.
Other orange, yellow, and red pigments then show through in the leaves.
Got it? Great!
Another curious question answered.