Autumn Colors: The What, Why And How

Nature indeed has her way of expressing how she feels – and it is something evident from how our surroundings feel and look like. Different seasons come with different weather patterns and while each season can be delightful in its own way, one can’t help but wonder how everything seems to change so suddenly. The air temperature, what time the sun sets and rises, and other factors change with the seasons. While it can be extremely cold for some months, the next months can be extremely hot and there seems to be no sign or any trace of the warm weather or the early sunset from just weeks ago.

Autumn is that season where everything seems to be more laid back – leaves fall, the weather can be a bit chilly, and the colors everywhere are just shades of brown, burnt orange or gold. Unlike winter, where everything seems to be colored white because everything is covered with snow, how does autumn color come about?

There are three pigments that are involved in autumn colors – chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. How they become active is an important part with how autumn colors come about. Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for the green color of leaves. Carotenoids are the pigments that are responsible for yellow and orange fruits, vegetables and other crops. Corn, carrots and bananas are colored as such because the active pigment in the main produce is carotenoids and not chlorophyll. Anthocyanins gives reddish color to plant leaves and also some other parts of the vegetable.

Carotenoids are active with sunlight and are mainly responsible for the production of the sugars that serve as food for the plant. This process is affected by the colder weather. This pigment is not as active thus the full green color does not appear. Falling leaves are also another consequence of the cold. Because there is not enough sugar travelling into the leaves, a clot in the leaves’ veins happens. When it does, the connection between the leaf and the branch weakens, causing the leaves to fall. This falling leaf also produces another consequence and is necessary in the life cycle of plants and other species around it. The leaves will eventually decompose and serve as minerals for the soil and some become food as well for other species such as insects in that area.

Autumn will always continue to inspire art with the richness of the colors that you can see during this season. There are hobbyists and enthusiasts who go on park visits or practice photography during autumn. While some would stay at home, some would prefer to go out and see the display of colors you can see everywhere. If you do not like extreme heat or extreme cold, autumn can be the perfect season for you to go out and enjoy the surroundings, something that you probably won’t do when the sun is so high up or when the streets are closed due to snow storms.

By: Criss White

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Criss White is a professional article writer for arts, wedding, and various other topics. To view some fall wedding favors or to check out some other wedding favors, visit Bridal and Wedding Favors. Note: This article may be reprinted in your ezine, blog, or website as long as the credits remain intact and hyperlinks remain active.