Article: Why Leaves Change Color

Fall is officially here..... Do you want to know why leaves change color this time of year? When we think of leaves we always think of the color green.  The substance that gives leaves their green color and helps in photosynthesis is called  chlorophyll. What other pigments are found in leaves and why do some leaves turn brown while others turn red, yellow or orange?

This article is from the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry.  It is part of their Environmental Information Series and it was also featured on weather.com. 
It is an easy read that will explain to you why leaves change colors in the fall. I liked this article because  it is simple while at the same time it explains that chlorophyll break down, other changes take place, why some trees lose leaves and others do not and how the weather affects color intensity.  On the same page as the article there is a Guide to Fall Colors in Upstate New York 


Palm Jr., C.E. (n.d.). Why Leaves Change Colors. Retrieved from http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm