As days grow shorter and students don their fall jackets and vests, the trees, too, are dressing themselves in brilliant red and yellow leaves, with colors expected to reach their peak beginning this week.
"We are witnessing a particularly good display this year," said Jerry Stenger, director of climatology in the environmental sciences department, adding that although there is "a lot of guesswork involved" in predicting the timing of color changes, he expects these vibrant hues to last until early November.
Every fall, the reduced amount of sunlight makes leaves stop producing chlorophyll, revealing colorful pigments that were previously hidden.
Although it is difficult to predict what conditions give rise to the brightest colors, sudden temperature drops and precipitation in the late growing season often result in rich colors, Stenger said.
Stenger noted that maples and dogwoods produce deep reds that "make the fall colors pop," whereas ash, sycamore and poplar trees produce "some of the more brilliant yellows."
"There's a lot of peak color right now," said Gregg O'Donnell, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Forestry. "Now and into the next week, we'll see a full transition from green to fall colors."
The colors of the leaves attract large numbers of tourists to the state every fall.
"One has only to see the traffic on skyline drive." Campbell said.
O'Donnell said he enjoyed the scenery with his family this past weekend while hiking at Shenandoah National Park, noting that traffic was "bumper to bumper on the parkway."
Peak colors are predicted to move east from here, Campell said.
"Generally the [peak] time moves progressively from higher elevations in western part of the state toward lower elevations in the Piedmont," said Campbell, who also added that the progression will occur during the course of three or four weeks. "[You can] find peak leaf colors for the entire month of October if you're willing to drive around."
The Virginia Department of Forestry has recently added a scenic driving tour for the Charlottesville area. More information is available at fallcolorva.blogspot.com.
-compiled by Kelly Kirshner
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