Just in time for the first day of fall, the leaves are quickly beginning to turn across parts of the Upper Midwest. Cool weather and the continuing drought will help this process along. Meanwhile, increasingly large concentrations of color can be found in the East.
Astronomically, the first day of fall is September 22, when the sun`s perpendicular rays cross the equator. Each day is getting shorter and this causes a chemical reaction in the leaves that leads to the color changing. As days become cooler and shorter, the trees ability to make chlorophyll, a pigment that keeps the leaves green, decreases and causes the leaves to become red, orange and purple. Click here for more information on the science of fall foliage.
The fall splendor of color is starting to paint the countryside in depth across parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and this will be where to find the best fall colors. Some of northern Minnesota`s state parks will be home to near-peak color, including Ft. Snelling and Savanna Portage. Reports of bright yellows and oranges have been reported in these parks, with a green-and-yellow mix surrounding the Twin Cities. While the rest of the Midwest is just starting to see colors changing, low color is still reported across central Wisconsin and northern Michigan.
No comments:
Post a Comment