There’s nothing more magical than the cool, crisp arrival of autumn. Colorado is expected to be particularly brightly colored this year, with parts of the state seeing leaf change as early as this week.

But when was the last time you put down your camera and marveled not only at the golden hues of an aspen leaf, but at the science that makes it possible?

Mother Nature’s visual arts are undeniably powerful. But it’s the only way to experience this magical season. Whether we understand how leaves change or why, each year many of us seem to miss the greater wonder of what’s actually happening around us. .

The annual scene has become all too familiar. Avid tourists and locals alike drive along Colorado’s scenic highways in search of the perfect spot. As soon as you find it, stop, jump out of the car, walk a few hundred feet to take a photo, and scurry back to your car to head to your next location.

The experience lasts just a few minutes at each stop. It’s almost as if finding the perfect Instagram post is the main goal, rather than being completely immersed in the beauty we seek.

But taking the time to fully immerse yourself in the natural environment can make autumn richer and more fulfilling. will come to recognize It’s time to make a change in preparation for the long, cold winter.

This allows us to enter the forest, learn to slow down in the forest, and take the time to learn what is really happening around us.

Take Colorado’s famous poplar, for example. Most of us have hundreds of color changing photos of these beautiful trees. But did you know that poplar leaves actually retain their yellow pigment all summer long? Can’t you see them until the season changes?

Each spring, as new stems and buds begin to open, sunlight and warmth increase, causing trees to produce chlorophyll, a compound important for photosynthesis. This chlorophyll colors the leaves an intense green hue. You may remember this from elementary school.

But it’s easy to forget that within each leaf there are still other colorful compounds. They are simply overwhelmed by the green pigment.

It continues like this for most of the summer, with chlorophyll remaining the dominant chemical. It reduces food production and closes its veins. This accelerates the breakdown of chlorophyll and the green pigment slowly disappears. It is at this time that the other vibrant chemicals already contained in the leaves finally make their appearance.

The resulting color for each leaf is based on the type of compound remaining. The predominantly orange leaves tend to carry carotenoids, while trees with yellow leaves are caused by the chemical compound xanthophyll.

Red and purple are produced by anthocyanins, with more sugar trapped in the leaves causing a chemical reaction, while brown leaves tend to be produced by tannins.

In both cases, the intensity of leaf color is regulated by temperature, with warm days and cold nights, but not below freezing, where chemical intensity is greatest.

Of course, it eventually drops all its leaves and prepares for winter. But for a few magical weeks, we can experience the impressive nature of the chemical spectrum as a stunning color display.

Learning the chemistry of autumn leaves is the only way to gain a deeper understanding of the majesty of autumn.

Whether it’s taking the time to understand how climate change is affecting the changing seasons, or learning how animals prepare for hibernation, it’s important to understand how the natural environment works. There are endless ways to immerse yourself in knowledge. Post to iPhone or Instagram.

Trish Zornio is a scientist, lecturer, and author who has worked at top US universities and hospitals. She’s an avid rock climber and was a candidate for the 2020 Colorado Senate.