Leaf gas exchange simulator

Concept and scientific modelling by Dr Mark Hovenden, School of Plant Science, University of Tasmania. Design and programming created by Luke Temby.

This interactive simulator allows virtual measurements to be made of leaf gas exchange (photosynthesis and transpiration) on three different types of plant, a C3 sun-species (Myrtle beech tree, Nothofagus cunninghamii), a C3 shade-species (Tasmanian tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica) and a C4 species (Kangaroo grass, Themeda triandra). Using the simulator you can control the environment of the leaf and measure carbon assimilation and transpiration rates. The user can control the irradiance, temperature and concentration of CO2 to which the leaf is exposed. The simulator produces values of CO2 and water vapour concentrations of the air stream entering (reference) and exiting (sample) the leaf chamber as well as values of leaf temperature and irradiance. The simulator then calculates photosynthetic carbon assimilation (P) and transpiration (T) rates as well as stomatal conductance to CO2 (gs) and intercellular CO2 concentration (ci). The units for the variables are tabulated below.



To use the simulator just click on the link below. The operation of the simulator requires Macromedia Flash Player, which can be downloaded free of charge here.

Leaf gas exchange simulator