Everyday Science, Everyday Wonder
Simple questions, smart answers
Have you ever been amazed by the sight of mountains dressed in vibrant colors every autumn? While it might seem like magic, there's a fascinating scientific principle behind why leaves change their colors with the seasons.
Hidden Colors Emerge in the Fall
As summer ends and autumn arrives, the days get shorter and temperatures begin to drop. To prepare for the upcoming winter, trees start to reduce photosynthesis and save energy. The first thing to be broken down is chlorophyll, the green pigment. As the chlorophyll slowly disappears, other pigments, which were hidden by its strong green color, begin to reveal themselves. This is why we can see a variety of leaf colors.
This image illustrates the process of photosynthesis, where chlorophyll in a leaf converts sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose (plant food) and oxygen.
Leaves naturally contain a yellow pigment called carotenoid. This is the same substance found in carrots, and it helps with photosynthesis alongside chlorophyll. When autumn arrives and chlorophyll fades, the bright yellow carotenoids shine through, creating the brilliant yellow foliage of trees like the ginkgo.
The stunning red of maple or lacquer trees is due to a pigment called anthocyanin. Unlike other pigments, anthocyanin is barely produced in the summer. Instead, it is newly synthesized from the sugars left in the leaves during the chilly autumn weather. The colder, drier, and sunnier the weather is, the more anthocyanin is produced, resulting in more vivid red colors. Orange leaves are simply a mix of yellow carotenoids and red anthocyanins.
Nature's Palette Becomes Science
It's like a play where the green actor, who was the star of the summer, exits the stage. Then, the hidden yellow and red actors come on to put on a spectacular finale. The color change of the leaves is more than just a beautiful sight—it's a meticulous survival strategy for the trees to prepare for winter. Next autumn, why not look at the fall foliage and remember the mysterious scientific story behind it?
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