Environmental Physics – Lecture 4
Prepared for BS Physics Students
Lecture 4: Radiative Transfer and Atmospheric Ab-
sorption
Reference
This lecture follows Chapter 2 (Light and Matter) of the uploaded text (see Figures
2.7–2.9 on atmospheric absorption and transmittance).
Learning objectives
• State and derive the BeerLambert law of absorption.
• Define absorption coefficient, mean free path, and optical depth.
• Explain Kirchhoffs law (absorptivity = emissivity).
• Apply radiative transfer to greenhouse gases in Earths atmosphere.
• Solve numerical problems on intensity reduction through the atmosphere.
A. Need for radiative transfer
The one-layer greenhouse model (Lecture 3) assumed that the atmosphere is a perfect
absorber of infrared radiation. In reality, absorption is partial and depends on wavelength,
gas concentration, and path length. We therefore need a quantitative law of absorption.
B. BeerLambert law of absorption
Consider a beam of intensity I(x) traveling through a thin layer of thickness dx. The
fractional loss of intensity is proportional to intensity and thickness:
dI = −αI(x) dx, (1)
where α is the absorption coefficient (units: m−1 ).
Step 1: Separate variables.
dI
= −αdx. (2)
I
1
Step 2: Integrate from x = 0 to x = L.
Z I(L) Z L
dI
= −α dx. (3)
I0 I 0
This gives
I(L)
ln = −αL. (4)
I0
Step 3: Exponential form.
I(L) = I0 e−αL . (5)
This is the BeerLambert law.
C. Optical depth and mean free path
Define the optical depth
τ = αL. (6)
Then transmission is
I
= e−τ . (7)
I0
Interpretation:
• τ 1: medium nearly transparent.
• τ 1: medium nearly opaque.
The mean free path ` is the average distance a photon travels before being absorbed:
1
`= . (8)
α
D. Kirchhoffs law of thermal radiation
For a medium in thermal equilibrium, absorptivity aλ and emissivity eλ are equal:
aλ = eλ . (9)
This principle ensures consistency with Plancks blackbody distribution.
E. Worked numerical example
Suppose a CO2 band at 15 µm has α = 1.0 × 10−4 m−1 . Find the transmitted fraction of
intensity through a 10 km path.
Step 1: Compute optical depth.
τ = αL = (1.0 × 10−4 )(104 ) = 1.0. (10)
Step 2: Transmission.
I
= e−τ = e−1 ≈ 0.37. (11)
I0
So only about 37% of the original intensity reaches the other side.
2
F. Classroom activities and exercises
In-class
1. Compute I/I0 for α = 5 × 10−5 , L = 20 km.
2. Ask: what is the mean free path for this absorption coefficient?
Homework
1. Derive the BeerLambert law starting from dI = −αIdx with all steps.
2. Calculate transmission for α = 2 × 10−4 , L = 5 km.
3. For water vapor absorption (α = 3 × 10−3 m−1 ), compute mean free path.
4. Explain qualitatively why the atmosphere is transparent to visible light but opaque
to much of infrared.
Suggested figure placement from the chapter
• Figure 2.7 schematic of radiative transfer.
• Figure 2.8 atmospheric transmittance spectrum.
• Figure 2.9 absorption features of greenhouse gases.