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Photosynthetically Active Radiation: Measurement and Modeling

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Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology

Definition of the Subject

In the broad sense, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is the part of electromagnetic radiation that can be used as the source of energy for photosynthesis by green plants. Technically, it is defined as radiation in the spectral range from 400 to 700 nm [1, 2]. It is expressed either in terms of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD , μmol photons m−2 s−1), since photosynthesis is a quantum process, or in terms of photosynthetic radiant flux density (PAR irradiance, W m−2), more suitable for energy balance studies. A fundamental term in the quantification of light used by plants in the photosynthesis process is the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) calculated as the ratio of absorbed to total incident PAR in a vegetation canopy. This variable is widely used in vegetation functioning models at a range of spatial scales from the plant to the globe as an indicator of the amount of energy...

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Abbreviations

Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR):

The part of electromagnetic radiation that can be used as the source of energy for photosynthesis by green plants, measured as PAR irradiance or PPFD.

PAR waveband:

Spectral region for electromagnetic radiation defined by the wavelength limits of 400–700 nm.

PAR irradiance:

Radiant flux density, or the radiative energy received by unit surface area in unit time, carried by photons in the PAR waveband.

Photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD):

The number of photons with wavelengths in the PAR waveband passing through unit surface area in unit time; synonymous to PAR quantum flux.

Photosynthetic action spectrum:

The spectral dependence of photosynthetic productivity per unit absorbed energy, usually plotted in relative units.

IPAR:

Intercepted PAR, or the amount of incident PAR not directly transmitted to the ground by a vegetation canopy.

APAR:

Absorbed PAR, the amount of incident PAR absorbed by a vegetation canopy.

fIPAR:

The fraction of incident PAR not directly transmitted to the ground by a vegetation canopy.

fAPAR:

The fraction of incident PAR absorbed by a vegetation canopy.

Global PAR:

The sum of diffuse and direct PAR: total PAR falling on a horizontal surface.

Ideal PAR energy sensor:

PAR sensor with output proportional to PAR irradiance.

Ideal PAR quantum sensor:

PAR sensor with output proportional to PPFD.

Spectral error:

Broadband radiation measurement errors arising from the deviation of the predicted radiation spectrum from the actual one.

Radiative transfer theory (RTT):

The mathematical framework for describing the radiation field in an absorbing, scattering, and emitting medium based on radiation beams traveling in straight lines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, 64, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Matti Mõttus

  2. Tartu Observatory, Tõravere, 61602, Tartumaa, Estonia

    Madis Sulev & Anu Reinart

  3. INRA, UMR Environnement Méditerranéen et Modélisation des Agro-Hydrosystèmes, EMMAH, F-84914, Avignon, France

    Frédéric Baret & Raoul Lopez-Lozano

Authors
  1. Matti Mõttus
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  2. Madis Sulev
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  3. Frédéric Baret
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  4. Raoul Lopez-Lozano
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  5. Anu Reinart
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Correspondence to Matti Mõttus .

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  1. RAMTECH LIMITED, Larkspur, CA, USA

    Robert A. Meyers

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Mõttus, M., Sulev, M., Baret, F., Lopez-Lozano, R., Reinart, A. (2012). Photosynthetically Active Radiation: Measurement and Modeling . In: Meyers, R.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0851-3_451

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