For years, scientists have worked to understand the changes that occur in trees and shrubs during autumn. Although we don’t know all the details, we do know enough to explain the basics to help you enjoy nature’s multicolored display. Three factors influence autumn leaf color:
- leaf pigments
- length of night
- weather
The timing of color changes and the onset of falling leaves is primarily regulated by the calendar as nights become longer. None of the other environmental influences – such as temperature, rainfall, food supply – are as unvarying as the steadily increasing length of night during autumn. As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with Nature’s autumn palette.
Read more: Science of Fall Colors | Manhattan Times
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