Autumn colors are sweeping throughout California as green gives way to yellow. After a hot September, temperatures have gotten significantly cooler as days shorten. Sunsets are noticeably earlier and the weather patterns throughout California are transitioning towards winter.
It is these changes that determine how colors develop. Writing for Thought.co, Tiffany Means opines in How Weather Affects Fall Color that a decrease in sunlight causes a reduction in chlorophyll (the green pigment in leaves) which in turn produces the vibrancy that California is known for.
Due to California’s vast range of climates, fall color usually starts in the Sierra and moves westward towards the coast with each passing week, however, microclimates and varying local conditions can cause fall color to greatly differ in a very small area.
Jeff Luke Titcomb demonstrates a mind-blowing example of this in Quincy, where two maples are growing side-by-side.
The pair serve as a beautiful contrast between summer and fall with one tree still fully green, and the other at peak. To see this phenomenon, visit the Quincy Airport in Plumas County now, as this show will only last a few days more.
- 50/50 Tree, Quincy Airport (3,342′) – Just Starting to PEAK (0-100%) GO NOW!
