UNI101Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Leaf, Ribulose, Rubisco
16 Feb 2013
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The visible portion of the spectrum used for photosynthesis is the portion that has the highest irradiance. Leaves contain pigments (contained in the chloroplasts) that absorb light to harness nrg. Chlorophyll: captures light nrg in the light rxns of photosynthesis. Absorbs red and violet light, reflects green and blue. Carotenoids (esp. carotenes and xanthophylls): accessory pigments; the pass light nrg to cholorphyll to begin the sequence of rxns in photosynthesis. Absorbs blue and green light, reflect yellow and orange wl of the spectrum. Transparency of a glass of water is deceptive (appears colourless in small quantities) Absorbs/scatters light enough to limit the depth of the photic zone. Absorbs longer (red) wl more strongly than shorter ones. Ir rays disappear within the topmost meter of water. Shortest visible wavelengths (violet and blue) scatter. Both fail to penetrate deeply, thus green light predominates w/ increasing depth.
