Which of the following best describes the absorption of light?

Light absorption refers to the process where light energy is taken in by a material, rather than being transmitted through, reflected off, or scattered. When light enters a material and is absorbed, it is effectively retained by that material, often resulting in a conversion of the light energy into other forms of energy, such as heat. This is a critical concept in various applications, including remote sensing and understanding the behavior of materials in different environments.

In contrast, transmission implies that light passes through a substance, reflection means that light bounces off a surface, and scattering involves the light being dispersed in different directions, often due to interaction with small particles within or on the material. These processes differ fundamentally from absorption, which is characterized by the retention and conversion of light energy. Thus, the understanding of absorption is essential for applications dealing with light interaction in materials.