Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) refers to the spectrum of light (400-700 nm) that plants can use for photosynthesis. In microclimate studies, estimation of available PAR helps quantify the amount of light available to plant life in a given area which can be used to optimize the design of urban green features such as green roofs, green walls, and other sustainable building elements. This data is essential for designing urban ecosystems, improving energy management, and enhancing the overall functionality of green infrastructure.
PAR is presented in Orbital Stack as a daily average of moles of PAR photons per meter squared. This quantifies the total amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) received over a day. A “mole” is a standard unit that represents a specific quantity of particles – in this case, photons. One mole corresponds to approximately 6.022 x 10²³ photons.
What is it measuring?
The PAR color scale indicates the daily average number of moles of PAR photons received per meter squared of surface area.
What options can I specify?
There are no user specifications for PAR. Results for each calendar month are generated by default.