Sep 22, 2009

Science Scene - Happy Autumn :o)

Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter, usually in late March or late September when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier. In theory, astronomically, the equinoxes ought to be the middle of the respective seasons, but temperature lag means that seasons appear later than dates calculated from a purely astronomical perspective. The actual lag varies with region, so some cultures regard the autumnal equinox as "mid-autumn" whilst others treat it as the start of autumn.

Did you ever wonder how and why a fall leaf changes color? Why a maple leaf turns bright red? Where do the yellows and oranges come from?

During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can't see them in the summer, because they are covered up by the green chlorophyll.

In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves turn this glucose into a red color. The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves.

Many changes occur in the leaves of deciduous trees before they finally fall from the branch. The leaf has actually been preparing for autumn since it started to grow in the spring. At the base of each leaf is a special layer of cells called the "abscission" or separation layer. All summer, small tubes which pass through this layer carry water into the leaf, and food back to the tree. In the fall, the cells of the abscission layer begin to swell and form a cork-like material, reducing and finally cutting off flow between leaf and tree. Glucose and waste products are trapped in the leaf. Without fresh water to renew it, chlorophyll begins to disappear.

As the bottom cells in the separation layer form a seal between leaf and tree, the cells in the top of the separation layer begin to disintegrate. They form a tear-line, and eventually the leaf is blown away or simply falls from the tree.

The below song is perforemed by Justin Hayward, singing the Moody Blues "Forever Autumn."




The summer sun is fading as the year grows old,
and darker days are drawing near,
the winter winds will be much colder,
now you're not here.
I watch the birds fly south across the autumn sky
and one by one they disappear
I wish that I was flying with them,
now you're not here

like the sun through the trees you came to love me
like a leaf on a breeze you blew away

through autumn's golden gown we used to kick our way
you always loved this time of year
loose fallen leaves lie undisturbed now
cos you're not here x 3

like the sun through the trees you came to love me
like a leaf on a breeze you blew away

a gentle rain falls softly on my weary eyes
as if to hide a lonely tear
my life will be forever autumn
cos you're not here x 6

11 comments:

  1. Very interesting piece tonight, Ken. :) I love autumn... Estela

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  2. Well Bucko, the good Lord created all the seasons and when I was little I LOVED the Fall and jumping in the pile of leaves Dad has raked up...but I confess as I age and the coolness starts the old art bugging...me and the white stuff is around the corner.,..my love for this season has lessend..although the beauty of the scenes are breathtakiing...Thanks for your entry...

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  3. Hi Ken,
    Thanks! I've always found Fall sort of a bittersweet season. Beautiful but a harbinger of colder things to come. That's why I followed Horace Greeley's advice ...
    Best,
    Marty

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  4. i am a big fan of the fall.


    xxalainaxx

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  5. Autumn is my favourite Season of the year ~ I had never really thought about why the leaves turned the colours they do ~ but I found this entry really interesting ~ so thanks for the Nature Lesson Ken :o) ~ Ally x

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  6. Happy Autumn, Ken!

    It is my favorite season of all... ;-)

    be well...

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  7. I think this is a different song from the Moody Blues one. It looks like this guy has his own song called "Forever Autumn."

    I like the fall except for the fact that I know it's followed by winter! Of course, I have to think ahead and remember that THAT is followed by spring, and then it will be summer again!

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  8. I can take or leave the season, but loved the song you posted with this entry. Thanks for introducing it to me.

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  9. Beautiful video and lyrics! (Thanks for including them). Autumn is my favorite time of the year. My old screen name in AOl was RdAutumnSage. Thanks for sharing! (Hugs)Indigo

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  10. I love the color of the leaves in the fall...now if I could actually SEE colors accurately maybe I'd be even more appreciative of fall..lol

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