Why Leaves Change Color Hotlist

What are the factors that change leaves from summer green to autumn red, gold, and orange?

The following sites are a list of internet-based resources that help explain why leaves change color in the fall.

The Chemistry of Autumn Color
http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/fallcolr/fallcolr.html

Why do some leaves turn yellow, while others turn red or orange?

Science Made Simple - Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

It's because during the winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis.

Changing Color
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/topics/leafco~1.html

The colors on the same tree may vary from year to year, depending upon the combination of weather conditions. The most vivid colors appear after a warm dry summer and early autumn rains which prevent early leaf fall.

Why Leaves Change Color
http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm

All of those beautiful fall colors are always in the leaves. But during the summer, those colors are masked by great amounts of chlorophyll which gives leaves their green colors.

Why Leaves Change Colors
http://www.stormfax.com/leaves.htm

"According to Native American myth, hunters in the Heavens killed the Great Bear in Autumn and its blood dripped over Earth's forests coloring some of the leaves red. As the hunters cooked the meat, fat dripped from the Heavens and colored some of the leaves yellow."

Author: LINDA MOSBACKER - Email linda.mosbacker@slc.k12.ut.us