Autumn Leaves
Autumn Leaves
Trees have green leaves due to the abundance of chlorophyll and chloroplasts in leaves. These organelles absorb, store and convert light energy from the sun and is necessary photosynthesis to occur. These organelles reflect green light which attributes to the green color of leaves. The leaves change color in the fall and winter do to the shortened times of daylight and lower temperatures. Trees also divert nutrients from leaves to store in twigs and branches for preparation of winter dormancy. This combined with a lack of sunlight causes chlorophyll production to slow and ultimately cease. Without chlorophyll the leaves lose their green coloring and other pigments in leaves that were masked by the green pigment begin to become more prominent. This explains why leaves go from green to brown, orange, red, and sometimes purple. When this color change happens the leaves develop a special tissue called an Abscission Layer, which allows the leaves to break off in the winter by weakening the connection between the leaf and the tree. This layer also helps cease the production of remaining chlorophyll. Photosynthesis ceases as well due to the lack of chlorophyll, and the tree goes into a dormant state using stored energy. While the leaves are still on the trees the weather has a large effect on the leaves color. If there is a stint of warm (40 F) sunny days, the leaves would produce sugar. The sugar would be blocked from leaving the leaves causing anthocyanin production, and the red coloring of leaves. Frost will kill pigments in leaves leaving a dull color, as will rain due to less sunlight. Also the amount of water received by the tree affects leave coloring, the more moisture the more intense the color. A lack of oil moisture can often delay autumn coloring. Oxygen levels in the atmosphere wouldn’t be jeopardized by the falling of the leaves due to the huge reservoir of oxygen already in the atmosphere. Also the world doesn’t experience autumn all at
Trees have green leaves due to the abundance of chlorophyll and chloroplasts in leaves. These organelles absorb, store and convert light energy from the sun and is necessary photosynthesis to occur. These organelles reflect green light which attributes to the green color of leaves. The leaves change color in the fall and winter do to the shortened times of daylight and lower temperatures. Trees also divert nutrients from leaves to store in twigs and branches for preparation of winter dormancy. This combined with a lack of sunlight causes chlorophyll production to slow and ultimately cease. Without chlorophyll the leaves lose their green coloring and other pigments in leaves that were masked by the green pigment begin to become more prominent. This explains why leaves go from green to brown, orange, red, and sometimes purple. When this color change happens the leaves develop a special tissue called an Abscission Layer, which allows the leaves to break off in the winter by weakening the connection between the leaf and the tree. This layer also helps cease the production of remaining chlorophyll. Photosynthesis ceases as well due to the lack of chlorophyll, and the tree goes into a dormant state using stored energy. While the leaves are still on the trees the weather has a large effect on the leaves color. If there is a stint of warm (40 F) sunny days, the leaves would produce sugar. The sugar would be blocked from leaving the leaves causing anthocyanin production, and the red coloring of leaves. Frost will kill pigments in leaves leaving a dull color, as will rain due to less sunlight. Also the amount of water received by the tree affects leave coloring, the more moisture the more intense the color. A lack of oil moisture can often delay autumn coloring. Oxygen levels in the atmosphere wouldn’t be jeopardized by the falling of the leaves due to the huge reservoir of oxygen already in the atmosphere. Also the world doesn’t experience autumn all at