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Actually, it's at least equal parts light and temperature. There are certain regions that have much more drastic (or much less drastic) changes in daylight lengths, but still have seasons as viewable by deciduous foliage.
Also note that a VERY cool dip in early fall will trigger leaves to change much more quickly (happens in Michigan every few years). On a simliar note, warm spurts early in spring will cause trees to bud pre-maturely. Some trees will actually drop their buds when it starts getting frosty again, only to produce new buds when it resettles into a warmer season.
Braindamage351 - I can't say I agree with your argument at all. The leaves change color and eventually drop as a result of the sugar-process slowing. The trees could viably live with leaves year-round, but the leaves don't have the nutrients to carry on. The tree could care less about the leaves, which happens to be why they die. The tree would carry on regardless.
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