Why Do Forests Change Color in Autumn?

In the summer, trees look green because they have a pigment called chlorophyll. But when it gets colder and the days get shorter, trees stop making chlorophyll. This means other pigments that were already in the leaves, like yellow and orange, can finally be seen. Some trees also make red pigments, which is why some leaves turn red or purple. It's like a paint party inside the leaves!

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Examples

  1. Imagine your leaves are like colorful paints hidden under a green cover, when the paint is removed, you see all the other colors inside.
  2. When it gets cold, trees stop producing their green paint, so yellow and orange start to show through.
  3. Some trees even make new red paint while they're getting ready for winter.

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