Augusta's Local weather

Good morning from the northwest end of Augusta, Maine. IT is another foggy morning. This morning's readings are:

a relative humidity of 91% with a Dew Point of 62.5ºF.

The temperature is 65.2ºF.

We barely have wind  today, my only reading being 1.4 mph out of the SouthWest. The highest gust recorded in the past month remains 17.9 mph. 

our Barometric pressure is 29.78 and falling.

There has been no rainfall in the past 24 hours.

Statewide weather forecasters are beginning to report frost warnings for Maine's northern foothills and upper elivations, even some snow showers up at the border.

Yep, fall is in the air. The state will shortly be putting up its seasonal fall folage web site showing where the best locations for fall color is to be found.  

 

*Why do Leaves change color in the fall?*

(Downloaded from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012104737.htm)

The leaves of trees and other plants contain three main pigments: carotene, anthocyanin, and the photosynthetic pigment, chlorophyll, which captures the sun's energy to make food for plants. As the most abundant pigment, chlorophyll is what gives leaves their green hue in spring and summer.

Another chemical in leaves, auxin, controls a special band of cells at the base of each leaf stem, called the abscission layer. During the growing season, auxin prevents this layer from fully developing and blocking the tiny, internal tubes that connect each leaf to the rest of the tree's circulatory system.

In fall, however, cooler and shorter days trigger an end to auxin production, allowing the abscission layer to grow and cut off the circulation of water, nutrients and sugar to the leaves. When this happens, chlorophyll disintegrates rapidly, letting carotene shine through as the yellow in maple, aspen and birch leaves. Anthocyanin, meanwhile, provides the oranges and reds of maples, sumacs and oaks. When there's less sun, anthocyanin isn't as chemically active and leaves are more orange or yellow than red.