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Some results on light penetration of an absorbing medium

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Abstract

Two results on light penetration of an absorbing medium are presented in this paper: (1) It is shown, using the general light penetration law of Mannet al. (1977), that a random distribution of absorbing bodies (cells, leaves, etc.) is most efficient at intercepting direct beam (parallel) light. (2) A transmission coefficient is added to the general law in a manner similar to Monteith's (1965). This leads to the partitioning of the radiation regime beneath an absorbing medium into unintercepted, once intercepted, twice intercepted, etc., components. We are thus enabled to calculate the mean radiation intensity beneath the absorbing medium.

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Literature

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24061, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    J. E. Mann

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  1. J. E. Mann
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Additional information

This research was initiated under NSF research grant BMS 7504108 Project 3189, and USFS grant (19–200) #89–106.

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Mann, J.E. Some results on light penetration of an absorbing medium. Bltn Mathcal Biology 41, 517–523 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02458327

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02458327

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