Hourly potential light availability maps at 10 m resolution over Switzerland.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Forestry

Background:

• Accurate light availability data is essential for ecological studies, microclimate modeling, and ecosystem research.
• Existing datasets often lack the high resolution and comprehensive coverage needed to capture fine-scale light variations within forest environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the SwissRad10 dataset, a novel nationwide resource for light availability mapping in Switzerland.
• To provide hourly light availability data at 10m resolution across a full annual solar cycle, incorporating detailed canopy and terrain information.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Canopy Radiation Model (CanRad) with high-resolution airborne lidar and terrain data (swissSURFACE3D).
• Calculated sky-view factor and direct-beam transmissivity to estimate direct and diffuse light at the ground surface.
• Modeled light availability for leaf-on, leaf-off, and terrain-only scenarios for all pixels.

Main Results:

• Generated nationwide light availability maps at 10m and hourly resolution for Switzerland.
• The dataset resolves shadows cast by individual trees, offering unprecedented detail.
• Light availability was calculated considering both canopy structure (leaf-on/leaf-off) and terrain.

Conclusions:

• The SwissRad10 dataset offers valuable insights into light availability dynamics and drivers across Switzerland.
• It serves as a critical resource for research in forest microhabitat suitability, biogeochemistry, snow modeling, and carbon/water flux studies.
• This data supports researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers in ecology and environmental sciences.