Why do leaves turn yellow and fall to the ground during autumn?

Why do leaves turn yellow and fall to the ground during autumn?

Hi Oscar-

Leaves turn yellow & fall to the ground because of two primary changes:
1) temperatures fall, so the leaves aren't likely to live as long
2) shorter days mean less sunlight, so the leaves have less food

Combined, this results in a fundamental change in certain types of trees, and leaves falling during the autumn or fall season. The foilage is supposed to be amazingly beautiful in the New England area, and tourists frequently visit there just to see the changing of the season.

Hope this helps, and thanks for asking your question on funadvice.

Best,

thedude

The colors that you see in the fall are actually present in the leaves all season long. The green pigment is strongest when the tree is producing chlophyll during photosynthesis. When the tree stops growing to preserve it's energy for the winter the chlophyll content drops off and the latent colors become evident. Not all trees are so colorful. Oaks leaves turn brown and fall off much later.
New England (where I live) is noted for the foliage in fall. The reason is that the soil is poor and highly acidic. The trees are actually stressed and cannot retain the chlophyll any longer.

Because the magical Colour faerie comes and colours it with her magical faerie juice!!! XD XD

-AutumnBreeze