FjordLight: PAR data for Arctic fjords

Fjords play a pivotal role in the Arctic, for both the natural world and human societies. It is therefore of the utmost importance that the key parametres of these systems be monitored and quantified in order to better manage them. The collection of temperature and salinity data for many Arctic fjords is well documented, but data for other values, like light availability, are scarce. It is to address this shortcoming that this dataset has been created. Herein one may find data for the surface PAR, Kd, and bottom PAR of seven well studied and representative fjords throughout the European Arctic. The three PAR variables were created via remotely sensed estimates of surface irradiance and turbidity. This output was then mapped to the highest resolution bathymetry data available (~ 50 - 200 m grid) to create a high resolution output. All of the PAR variables are available as overall global averages, monthly climatologies, and annual averages for all months when light is present (March - October). The bottom PAR data are also available as monthly averages per year, making these data the majority of the volume of the dataset. An R package 'FjordLight' has been developed to aid in the access and handling of these data, and their applicability is demonstrated in an ESSD publication.