Autumn Season
The Autumn Season: a time for nature to display its beauty; a time for it to also display its havoc. Of course, everyone knows what follows a beautiful autumn season, must only be a harsh; ugly winter. This mysterious work of nature and time of year reveals all of mother nature’s beauty at her finest; with the colors of the "world†on display….as the leaves go through a transformative evolution to becoming richer and vibrant in color, fulfilling their color scheme and lifespan; before welting off the trees in prep for colder months ahead. Colder months can only be defined as the harsh, cold, and lifelessness as it is known as a winter-in comparison to the beauties mother nature offers us with the most wonderful season known as Autumn.
Why must autumn come around a time of year that transitions a period of life and death in the natural order of photosynthesis and plant growth? Why must such a beautiful time of year only be followed by a time of year that looks as depressing as it feels? Autumn is one of four seasons naturally occurring annually, marking the transition of noticeable weather pattern changes and usually colder weather; in comparison to the warmer months that were forecasted only weeks prior. During the months of Autumn, which fall through the month range of (September 22) starting and ending on the month of December- dated the 21st of the month. By the time December rolls around in most states in the US and parts of the country (keeping the Poles in mind and the natural order of seasons in your country of residence); the weather will change noticeably; as well as a change in daylight/ or hours of sunlight during a normal 24-hour period. Each area of the country or world can expect different weather patterns and time zone changes in their area of residence, however; in the US most of the country if not all; will notice a drastic change in weather patterns and conditions around the month of September. Most cooler weather patterns will start to appear throughout the US starting in the month of September and usually ending around February/March. States closer to the equator or further down south shall expect a lesser change in weather conditions and usually don’t experience much of a drastic temperature drop. States further from the equator, especially the northern states; may be robbed of a full season of autumn as Winter temperatures begin to approach higher elevations and those further from the equator a lot quicker than the states near the "band of warmth.â€
During the autumn season; regardless of the area of residence; the time will change. This is known as "Daylight Savings Time’- where the clocks are to be set an hour behind. This time change brings about shorter days-which is really an illusion to the adjustment of the hour difference, which basically translates to the hours of sunlight seeming shorter than during summer months. The summer solstice is protected by the "spring ahead†phenomenon occurring during the "Spring Seasonâ€, creating the illusion of longer days due to more sunlight during the waking or productive hours of the day. What causes the temperature difference you may ask in the US in particular? Well, it actually has nothing to do with positioning from the sun. The noticeable colder air temps are caused by a natural tilt in the Earth’s axis as it rotates around the sun. During the summer months certain parts of the Earth are tilted directly towards the sun’s rays; creating much warmer and hotter temps than the parts that are faced away from the sun, which is why some parts of the world are opposite in seasons with our country. During Autumn, it’s slightly tilted away, causing colder temperatures. The change in temperature is not the only change to be noted during the season. The trees that house leaves will also change during this season and in cooler temps; will provide quite remarkable foliage. Foliage is the different coloring of leaves as the seasons change; in a much more scientific explanation; plants stop receiving the amount of sunlight and warm temps needed for regular photosynthesis and food production. Once the food-making process starts breaking down- chlorophyll starts breaking down as well causing the green color of the leaves to disappear or change. During this season you will notice leaves changing colors to vibrant yellows, and reds. Oranges. The different pigmentation comes from the development of "red anthocyaninâ€-which is just another way of saying it can help create the beautiful colors of the reds and purples, or even browns from the Oak Trees; caused by a mixture of varying amounts of chlorophyll residue and other leaf pigments naturally occurring during the fall season which is fancy talk for the leaf color is ultimately due to the sugar levels in the leaves. Just a hint- the more red that is in a leaf; the more sugar it is storing!
Did you know not all trees lose their leaves during the Autumn season? Examples of these trees include the ever-so-famous Pine and Spruce Trees, Evergreens, and Hemlocks. The needle-like leaves remain on the tree for multiple years at a time, withholding their green tint throughout the seasons. Trees that are affected by the season typically include any type of Deciduous tree. Deciduous trees can include trees such as the Ash, Maple, or Willow tree. These trees will heavily shed most if not all their leaves during the continuing weeks of autumn- as winter approaches/this will happen during the later weeks of autumn (usually around November). Evergreen trees for example, have a wax covering that is rather thick, that is used as a protective layer from the changing pigmentation and chlorophyll or green in the leaves that prevents them from participating in this annual change and shedding of leaves. They are one of protected trees that will not always change while all the other trees are popping with color that is colorful and bright in comparison to the Evergreen tree.
The change of seasons affects not only our ecosystem in terms of vegetation but also humans and animals alike. It has been proven that during the Fall Season; most people go from a single status to an "engaged†status quicker than any other season maybe because more people fall for each other during this season than any other. Both men and women experience higher levels of attraction and testosterone during these few months and as though a reason has not yet been discovered why- it’s been proven more babies are conceived during these months versus any other time of year. In the discussion of attraction, it is also important to note birds actively travel to mating grounds while also turning their focus on finding food to prepare for the colder months ahead.
The three main months of Autumn are September, October, and November. Autumn begins as defined on Calendar and Farmers Almanac; begins on the Summer Solstice- when daylight hours are at their shortest (around September 21-22). Once Autumn begins- it shall continue until the Winter Solstice begins; thus ending the astronomical Autumn (usually beginning around December 21). It is important to note however that the season's beginnings and endings will not always be accurate as the astronomical seasons are about three weeks behind meteorological ones, and there sometimes can be a delay in the season start not necessarily by the daylight changing; but by temps not reaching the estimated annual low for the area and climate. If this happens; there are other ways to distinguish season changes by things such as the "first tinting†of oak or birch trees, and the appearance of elderberries that are ripe- or even the migration of certain species of birds like the Redwings and Fieldfares.
As one can conclude, the season of Autumn brings about lots of changes in the ecosystem as well as weather patterns: often with beautiful spectacles of nature creating its beautiful art of painted reds and yellows and orange leaves on the everchanging and aging trees- some also being prone to the change of seasons. To finalize this essay let us not forget to mention the standard US calendar respected holidays observed during the months of autumn such as Halloween, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving; all celebrated with custom traditions of the US culture- keeping in mind other countries may observe their own holiday traditions such as "Day of the Deadâ€- which is recognized as a holiday in Mexico.
