Hourly potential light availability maps at 10 m resolution over Switzerland

This paper presents the SwissRad10 dataset, containing novel nationwide light availability maps at 10 m and hourly resolution across an entire annual solar cycle. The variables sky-view factor and direct-beam transmissivity are calculated, allowing direct estimation of both direct and diffuse light at the ground surface. The dataset is calculated using the detailed synthetic hemispheric image-based Canopy Radiation Model (CanRad) with the latest airborne lidar and terrain surface data from the swissSURFACE3D dataset and resolves the shadow cast by every single tree in Switzerland. Below and adjacent forest canopy pixels include light availability calculated for both leaf-on and leaf-off canopy structure, and all pixels in the domain include a terrain-only calculation. This data is important for, e.g. assessing forest microhabitat suitability for both plants and animals, for disciplines linked via forest microclimate such as biogeochemistry and snow modelling, as well as for ecosystem research targeting carbon and water fluxes. The nationwide light availability maps presented in this paper will offer valuable insights into the dynamics and drivers of light availability, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers working in the field of ecology and environmental sciences.