Why do plants photosynthesize more during the summer than the winter?
During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can’t see them in the summer, because they are covered up by the green chlorophyll. So mainly there is not enough light and water in winter. Hope that helps pass the exam!
This is because firstly in the summer there is more light, plants need light to photosynthesis and a lack of light slows down the rate of photosynthesis. Secondly it is cold in the winter so the enzymes which make photosynthesis happen do not work as effectively and therefore do not photosynthesise as much as on a warm day.
