The relationship between light intensity and photosynthesis—A simple mathematical model

SummaryA summary is given of two papers, presented by the authors at a seminar held for members of the Netherlands Hydrobiological Society. A simple model for photosynthesis is described that leads to a new relation between production rate and light intensity. This relation gives a better fit to experimental data than previous ones and allows relatively easy statistical evaluation of its parameters. It can be intergrated analytically for calculation of total photosynthesis per unit area, if the light intensity above water and extinction are known.