Weather and Science Behind Colorful Fall Leaves
The once green trees that created a place of relief during the summer heat are now turning an array of vibrant colors. According to Aviva Yasgur with the Woodlands Nature Center at Land Between the Lakes, the weather plays a big factor in those changing colors.
“Ideal conditions to produce good fall colors is a warm and rainy spring, followed by a fairly mild summer that is not a drought, not super hot, followed by a fall with warm sunny days and cool nights,” said Yasgur.
While the weather plays an important role in the color, the key for leaves to start changing is the length of the day.
“The period of daylight everyday gets shorter and shorter and plants sense that, the shortening daylight, which causes them to produce less and less chlorophyll,” says Yasgur
Along with the colors, you might want to keep an eye out for something else.
“A lot of time, wildlife is coming out at this time because the fall colors changing happens to coincide when there is a lot of wild foods being abundant,” said Yasgur.
So, from amazing wildlife to beautiful fall leaves, there’s a lot you don’t want to miss this fall.
