GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECV)
Terrestial/ECV T10 Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR)

Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), sometimes also called FAPAR or FPAR, is a radiation measure which indicates the presence of vegetation and reflects its photosynthetic activity. Spatially-detailed descriptions of FAPAR provide information about the relative strength and location of terrestrial carbon pools and fluxes. It is one of the surface parameters that may be used in quantifying the CO2 assimilation by plants and the release of water through evapotranspiration. (From the FAO/GTOS web site)

• ECV T10 FAPAR: Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation - Assessment of the Status of the Development of the Standards for the Terrestial Essential Climate Variables (ECV), Version 8, 11 May 2009 (GTOS-65)

[ECV Matrix Main Page] [Reference Documents] [Contact] [Updated April 21, 2010]

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