SLOP: A Revised Version of the Stochastic Model for Leaf Optical Properties

Abstract

SLOP (stochastic model for leaf optical properties) is a revised version of the stochastic model for leaf optical properties. It calculates the reflection, transmission, and absorption of light by leaves in the spectral region from 400 nm up to 2.5 μm. The model treats the radiative transfer of diffuse light as transitions of light with weighted probabilities according to the theory of homogeneous Markov chains. The leaves are divided in several compartments analogous to the well-known leaf structure. As the specific absorption coefficients of chlorophylls are one of the main parameters of the model, special attention has been paid to derive the specific absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and b in vivo. A comparison of modeled with measured leaf spectra from the LOPEX campaign shows good agreement. With this model also, the reflectance both of the upper and lower side of a dicotyledon leaf was calculated with the same parameters, demonstrating the typical differences observed by measurements.