Microclimate mapping using novel radiative transfer modelling

Zellweger, Florian; Sulmoni, Eric; Malle, Johanna T.; Baltensweiler, Andri; Jonas, Tobias; Zimmermann, Niklaus E.; Ginzler, Christian; Karger, Dirk Nikolaus; De Frenne, Pieter; Frey, David; Webster, Clare

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-605-2024

Articles | Volume 21, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-605-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-605-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 21, issue 2

Research article

|

29 Jan 2024

Research article |

| 29 Jan 2024

Microclimate mapping using novel radiative transfer modelling

Florian Zellweger, Eric Sulmoni, Johanna T. Malle, Andri Baltensweiler, Tobias Jonas, Niklaus E. Zimmermann, Christian Ginzler, Dirk Nikolaus Karger, Pieter De Frenne, David Frey, and Clare Webster

Data sets

Monthly topsoil and near surface microclimate temperature data for Switzerland E. Sulmoni et al. https://doi.org/10.16904/envidat.431

Model code and software

Using just a canopy height model to obtain lidar-level accuracy in 3D forest canopy shortwave transmissivity estimates (https://github.com/c-webster/CanRad.jl) C. Webster et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109429

Short summary

The microclimatic conditions experienced by organisms living close to the ground are not well represented in currently used climate datasets derived from weather stations. Therefore, we measured and mapped ground microclimate temperatures at 10 m spatial resolution across Switzerland using a novel radiation model. Our results reveal a high variability in microclimates across different habitats and will help to better understand climate and land use impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems.