Microclimate mapping using novel radiative transfer modelling

Abstract ∘ C, respectively, while below trees outside forests, e.g. in hedges and below solitary trees, this buffering effect was 1.8 and 7.2 ∘ C, respectively. We also found that, in open grasslands, maximum temperatures at 5 cm above ground are, on average, 3.4 ∘ C warmer than those of the macroclimate, suggesting that, in such habitats, heat exposure close to the ground is often underestimated when using macroclimatic data. Spatial interpolation was achieved by using a hybrid approach based on linear mixed-effect models with input from detailed radiation estimates from radiative transfer models that account for topographic and vegetation shading, as well as other predictor variables related to the macroclimate, topography, and vegetation height. After accounting for macroclimate effects, microclimate patterns were primarily driven by radiation, with particularly strong effects on maximum temperatures. Results from spatial block cross-validation revealed predictive accuracies as measured by root mean squared errors ranging from 1.18 to 3.43 ∘ C, with minimum temperatures being predicted more accurately overall than maximum temperatures. The microclimate-mapping methodology presented here enables a biologically relevant perspective when analysing climate–species interactions, which is expected to lead to a better understanding of biotic and ecosystem responses to climate and land use change.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Microclimate mapping using novel radiative transfer modelling ; volume:21 ; number:2 ; year:2024 ; pages:605-623 ; extent:19 ; Biogeosciences ; 21, Heft 2 (2024), 605-623 (gesamt 19)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: 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

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/bg-21-605-2024
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2024020103213533152519
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:20 AM CEST