• Question: in autumn why do leaves change colour?

    Asked by IzzyClifton to Sarah, Sankar, Jo, Becky, Alan on 13 Mar 2015. This question was also asked by Chloee.
    • Photo: Jo Sadler

      Jo Sadler answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      Plants contain a molecule called chlorophyll, which is used in photosynthesis to make food for the plant. chlorophyul is also green and givers plants their green colour. In the winter, however, there is less sun and so most plants have evolved to live off the nutrients they have stored up during the summer. So, in the autumn, the chlorophyll begins to break down, so that the yellows and reds in the plant are visible, which is why you see a change in colour. If you want a more detailed explanation, http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html explains it really well :).

    • Photo: Sarah Kirk

      Sarah Kirk answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      It is also thought that the red colour actually protects the trees while they store the nutrients, acting like a sunscreen!

    • Photo: Alan McCue

      Alan McCue answered on 16 Mar 2015:

      Beaten to the answer here 🙂

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