Falling leaves in August: has autumn come early?

UK's drought has caused leaves to turn brown - but this is a defensive reaction by trees to conserve waterAcross the UK, autumn looks to have come early this year with many leaves turning brown and falling during August's drought. But this apparent seasonal confusion is a defensive reaction to conserve water.Leaves are the tree's lungs. They are covered with tiny pores called stomata that take in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. The pores provide a large surface area that makes them highly efficient but can be a liability in hot, dry conditions, as it increases the rate of moisture loss from evaporation. Continue reading...