Heading further into autumn we can expect the leaves of the trees to begin to change color. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, autumn colors will peak across northern Ohio in early October. The peak colors will occur across central and southern Ohio in the middle and late October, respectively.
The leaves begin to change color due to lower amounts of sunlight and cooler weather in the autumn. Specifically, during autumn chlorophyll, which has a green color, located in leaves and is a food source for trees, begins to break down. As the chlorophyll breaks down, other pigments that make up the leaves begin to show. Other chemical reactions in leaves also produce additional colors.
And as one would suspect, weather can affect color intensity of fall foliage. For instance, rainy and overcast days tend to increase the intensity of autumn colors according to the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
