Climate change shortens time for colorful fall colors

One of the best parts of my day is my mornings I get to spend out on Lake Sag rowing with the CSB/SJU Crew Team; watching the sun rise and highlight the fall colors is a sight to see.

It begs the question: what gives leaves their beautiful fall colors, and how will the drought that we’ve been experiencing across the Midwest affect the foliage we all look forward to?

Let’s begin with the science behind the changing colors of seasons. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s SciJinks, chlorophyll is the main pigment produced in leaves. It makes the leaves appear green. Chlorophyll is essential to the energy-making process of plants and is created in high volumes when there is lots of sunlight.

However, as the days become shorter and the amount of sunlight decreases, the leaves produce less chlorophyll. The green chlorophyll fades away and leaves behind the colors of other pigments in the leaves, such as the oranges of carotenoids, reds of anthocyanins and yellows of xanthophylls.

Thanks to science, we can understand how we get the symphony of colors each autumn. However, this year has been a little different than past ones. Our summer was long, hot and dry. River and lake water levels have been decreasing as the weeks pass by. Will this drought affect how our fall is going to look?

Science also says, unfortunately, yes. According to Climate Central, severe droughts can cause trees to change their leaf colors early, and the scenic views will not last as long. Some trees even skip turning colors and simply turn brown right away.

While there isn’t anything we can do about the colors this fall, this season of drought is just another example of how extreme climate change can affect our personal lives. You might think: What do I care if our area isn’t as pretty this fall? It’ll change every year, right?

These periods of extreme weather and environmental disturbances (including fires, droughts, hurricanes and more) have only been increasing in length and severity over recent decades. If serious changes are not made soon, we will see even more drastic effects.

How can we do anything as a bunch of broke college students? The simplest answer: advocate and discuss. If we avoid the problem and don’t stand up for change, the situation will go unchanged. There are many personal choices we can make that will help, such as carpooling and using public transportation, avoiding single-use plastic products and more, but we also must look to corporations that cause the most disruptions in our environment.

We must demand the action we want and push for the change we want to see. If we don’t start now, our fall colors are not going to be the only change we will see in our future. Act, demand change and enjoy the natural wonders we must protect.

Once again, there are many resources on campus and in the area that provide more information. CSB/SJU Sustainability, the Climate Justice Club, the OLC and others are wonderful organizations to approach and learn more about our impact on the planet.