Autumn leaf detective
Look beyond the color to the processes underneath.
Before you jump in
An autumn tree can change the mood of a familiar street almost overnight. Gold appears where green used to dominate, a few branches turn red, and nearby trees seem to follow different schedules. The display is beautiful, but it also raises questions about what a leaf contains and what changes as the growing season ends. This quiz turns those everyday observations into a small investigation.
Begin with the roles of pigments, then compare the environmental clues that help explain a changing canopy. Later questions ask you to judge what a photograph or a prediction can really establish. We focus on seasonal color in deciduous trees, without treating every species or location as identical. You will not need a forecast for this year's peak foliage. Instead, look for a process that fits the evidence and leave room for the variation that makes each autumn different.
What you’ll explore
- Pigments and photosynthesis
- Seasonal signals and local conditions
- Interpreting color and timing
Explain autumn color without assuming every pigment or every tree follows the same schedule.
During the growing season, chlorophyll helps a leaf do what?
This is the opening question. Start the round to see the choices and test your answer.
