Articles | Volume 7, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-2477-2014
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-7-2477-2014
Model description paper
 | 
24 Oct 2014
Model description paper |  | 24 Oct 2014

Development of a semi-parametric PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) partitioning model for the United States, version 1.0

J. C. Kathilankal, T. L. O'Halloran, A. Schmidt, C. V. Hanson, and B. E. Law

Abstract. A semi-parametric PAR diffuse radiation model was developed using commonly measured climatic variables from 108 site-years of data from 17 AmeriFlux sites. The model has a logistic form and improves upon previous efforts using a larger data set and physically viable climate variables as predictors, including relative humidity, clearness index, surface albedo and solar elevation angle. Model performance was evaluated by comparison with a simple cubic polynomial model developed for the PAR spectral range. The logistic model outperformed the polynomial model with an improved coefficient of determination and slope relative to measured data (logistic: R2 = 0.76; slope = 0.76; cubic: R2 = 0.73; slope = 0.72), making this the most robust PAR-partitioning model for the United States currently available.

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