fall: Why Do Leaves Change Color?
- 10/28/09 10:21 AM
We all enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn, but why the leaves change color is a mystery to most leaf-watchers. In summer, leaves capture the sun's energy and turn it into food through a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is made possible through a green pigment called chlorophyll, which keeps leaves green in summer. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, turning it into the sugars trees live on. Yellow and orange pigments are present, but they are overpowered by green chlorophyll. In winter, trees shed their leaves to slow the evaporation of water, which is difficult to replace when the ground is frozen. Also, trees … (0 comments)
We all enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn, but why the leaves change color is a mystery to most leaf-watchers. In summer, leaves capture the sun's energy and turn it into food through a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is made possible through a green pigment called chlorophyll, which keeps leaves green in summer. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, turning it into the sugars trees live on. Yellow and orange pigments are present, but they are overpowered by green chlorophyll. In winter, trees shed their leaves to slow the evaporation of water, which is difficult to replace when the ground is frozen. Also, trees … (0 comments)
;)
;)
;)
