httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52pGSIdFBwE
Today is the autumnal equinox, which means several things: It’s the official first day of fall in the Northern Hemisp, and Google has designed a special Google Doodle to commemorate the day.
It also means t are equal hours of daylight and nighttime in the Northern and Southern hemisps, and, most importantly, it means imminent fall colors.
When days begin to grow shorter, deciduous trees start signaling their leaves to stop producing chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for the leaves’ color and photosynthesis.
Because the color change is more dependent on light than temperature, it takes place at basically the same time year after year, says the US National Arboretum – basically a zoo for trees.
The website SmokyMountains.com created this interactive map to determine peak fall colors across the United States, combining data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and local authorities.
Chlorophyll normally masks the yellow pigments known as xanthophylls and the orange pigments called carotenoids – both then become visible when the green chlorophyll is gone.
These colors are present in the leaf throughout the growing season.
How do I see the trees? It’s easy: Go outside!