The Great Outdoors – Fun Facts about Fall Foliage
MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. (WBUP) — Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, or driving along the winding roads, now is the perfect time to head outdoors.
If you are looking to impress your friends and family with some fun facts about Fall Foliage, check out some facts about the science behind why the leaves change color.
As the air gets crisper and the days get shorter, decidious trees stop making chlorophyll, which is the light-absorbing parts of cells responsible for making leaves green.
Pigments called carotenoids make fall leaves turn yellow and orange. Carotenoids are also found in carrots, squash and pumpkins.
Anthocyanins are the same antioxidant responsible for the deep colors of red wine, grapes, and blueberries.
The color-changing process is actually a way for trees to reabsorb nutrients like nitrogen to store and use during the winter.