Fall – what a wonderful time of year! Everyone is breaking out their sweaters, enjoying various pumpkin related delicacies and gathering together with friends and family. A particular pleasure of Fall for many is watching the trees turn from their bright summery greens into a cornucopia of colors ranging from brilliant reds to bright yellows to vibrant oranges.
But, when was the last time you took a closer look at the fallen leaves from these trees? Have you ever wondered what the discolorations, holes and pockmarks are telling you? It turns out that a freshly fallen leaf can tell you a lot about local air quality. All you have to do is look.
Just like humans, plants have a respiratory system. Just like humans, that respiratory system is vulnerable to air pollution. Pollution ranging from factories to car exhaust turns into a grayish brown smog (ozone) in major metropolitan areas such as the Philadelphia region. This smog has a substantial impact on trees and their leaves.
Fall – what a wonderful time of year! Everyone is breaking out their sweaters, enjoying various pumpkin related delicacies and gathering together with friends and family. A particular pleasure of Fall for many is watching the trees turn from their bright summery greens into a cornucopia of colors ranging from brilliant reds to bright yellows to vibrant oranges.
But, when was the last time you took a closer look at the fallen leaves from these trees? Have you ever wondered what the discolorations, holes and pockmarks are telling you? It turns out that a freshly fallen leaf can tell you a lot about local air quality. All you have to do is look.
Just like humans, plants have a respiratory system. Just like humans, that respiratory system is vulnerable to air pollution. Pollution ranging from factories to car exhaust turns into a grayish brown smog (ozone) in major metropolitan areas such as the Philadelphia region. This smog has a substantial impact on trees and their leaves.
Pollutants emitted from fossil fuel can bleach leaves white or turn them the traditional fall colors of brown and yellow way before the Fall months. If enough of a plant or tree’s leaves are prematurely impacted in this manner, the entire tree is at risk.
You can spot the damage done by air pollution yourself. Sulfur dioxide converts into sulfuric acid which eats holes into leaves. Smog damage on leaves appears as mottled spots which range in color from yellow to black or brown. Fluorides damage the edges of plants and cause them to turn brown or black. A particular kind of nitrate causes a condition called “Silver leaf” which turns the underside of leaves a sickly silvery white or bronze color.Fall – what a wonderful time of year! Everyone is breaking out their sweaters, enjoying various pumpkin related delicacies and gathering together with friends and family. A particular pleasure of Fall for many is watching the trees turn from their bright summery greens into a cornucopia of colors ranging from brilliant reds to bright yellows to vibrant oranges.
But, when was the last time you took a closer look at the fallen leaves from these trees? Have you ever wondered what the discolorations, holes and pockmarks are telling you? It turns out that a freshly fallen leaf can tell you a lot about local air quality. All you have to do is look.
Just like humans, plants have a respiratory system. Just like humans, that respiratory system is vulnerable to air pollution. Pollution ranging from factories to car exhaust turns into a grayish brown smog (ozone) in major metropolitan areas such as the Philadelphia region. This smog has a substantial impact on trees and their leaves.
Pollutants emitted from fossil fuel can bleach leaves white or turn them the traditional fall colors of brown and yellow way before the Fall months. If enough of a plant or tree’s leaves are prematurely impacted in this manner, the entire tree is at risk.
You can spot the damage done by air pollution yourself. Sulfur dioxide converts into sulfuric acid which eats holes into leaves. Smog damage on leaves appears as mottled spots which range in color from yellow to black or brown. Fluorides damage the edges of plants and cause them to turn brown or black. A particular kind of nitrate causes a condition called “Silver leaf” which turns the underside of leaves a sickly silvery white or bronze color.
Pollutants emitted from fossil fuel can bleach leaves white or turn them the traditional fall colors of brown and yellow way before the Fall months. If enough of a plant or tree’s leaves are prematurely impacted in this manner, the entire tree is at risk.
You can spot the damage done by air pollution yourself. Sulfur dioxide converts into sulfuric acid which eats holes into leaves. Smog damage on leaves appears as mottled spots which range in color from yellow to black or brown. Fluorides damage the edges of plants and cause them to turn brown or black. A particular kind of nitrate causes a condition called “Silver leaf” which turns the underside of leaves a sickly silvery white or bronze color. Check the leaves in your area. Ours are still normal, but we need to clean up dirty air to continue the fall leave's gorgeous hues.
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| Let's Get Our Colors Back! BBL |
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