With the last days of summer and the beginning of autumn, I’ve decided to talk about trees. In particular, why they change colour as winter creeps closer.
Leaves are green because they have chlorophyll, a pigment that helps them absorb sunlight and photosynthesize. But chlorophyll is not the only pigment in plants, they also contain carotenoids, which colour them yellow, orange or red.
Usually, chlorophylls is dominant, as it is the most efficient at absorbing the spectrum, but as winter approaches and the days grow shorter, photosynthesis is no longer as profitable. So to limit losses, plants stop producing chlorophyll and re-absorb that which is already in the leaves. As a result, for the short moment before they die and fall off, the carotenoids are revealed painting the trees red, orange and yellow.
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