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PP Systems - Model CIRAS-4 -Portable Photosynthesis System
The CIRAS-4 is the fastest and most accurate mobile system for simultaneous leaf gas exchange & chlorophyll fluorescence measurement. Its small system volume is optimized for high-level field performance and is the perfect choice for the measurement of: Photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, soil respiration, canopy assimilation, insect respiration, rapid A/Ci curves using our SSCO2R™ method.
- Don’t let its compact size fool you.
- The highly accurate CIRAS-4 Portable Photosynthesis System is a lightning-fast portable powerhouse that will elevate your research experience.
- Its advanced software is exceptionally intuitive and customizable. You can manage environmental controls—as well as how you view your data—all from the touchscreen.
- It’s so easy to use, you can begin taking measurements right out of the box.
The CIRAS-4 is designed with the high-level field researcher in mind. Its small size makes it the most portable photosynthesis system in its class, alleviating the need for assistance or tripods.
The innovative design of the CIRAS-4 utilizes its small system volume to ensure faster stabilization and the most rapid and accurate measurements available. Measurements in real-time allow the user to expand the parameters of their research and use their time and resources efficiently. Check out the size and weight of the CIRAS-4 console and leaf cuvettes, and you will quickly discover why smaller and lighter is better.
The heart and soul of any photosynthesis system is the analyzer. Accurate, reliable, and stable measurement and control of CO2 and H2O are critical for high-level research. A “true differential analyzer”, the CIRAS-4 features 4 independent, non-dispersive gas analyzers for accurate, simultaneous measurement and control of both CO2 and H2O — a significant advantage over “gas switching” systems and a major requirement for most researchers. The analyzers act as absorptiometers measuring infrared absorption only. The temperature-controlled optical bench is pressure compensated ensuring the most accurate measurement of CO2 and H2O under changing ambient conditions.
No factory recalibration requiredExpect nothing less than the most accurate, reliable, and stable calibration of CO2 and H2O for many years without the need for inconvenient, time-consuming, and costly return-to-factory calibration. Our innovative, proprietary Auto-Zero measurement technique ensures inherent calibration stability confirmed by more than 35 years of experience in gas analysis technology. It allows for very fast warm-up, quick adaptation to changing ambient conditions, and excellent long-term stability. Auto-Zero also minimizes effects on span gas sensitivity, IR source aging, and changes in detector sensitivity and electronics. Simple, periodic system checks are recommended to confirm system integrity and calibration.
The CIRAS-4 comes standard with three (3) rechargeable Li-ion battery packs that provide 16+ hours of continuous operation. All 3 batteries can charge simultaneously allowing the user to collect lots of data without the interruption of swapping out battery packs.
Fast response. Fully mobile.The CIRAS-4’s IRGAs (Infrared Gas Analyzers) are strategically located in the main console, right next to the internal gas mixing system and flow control. This setup ensures an ultra-fast response to changes in “reference” gas, making it the fastest and most accurate portable photosynthesis measurement system available!
Having the IRGAs in the console also makes the entire system highly portable and protects it from dirt, dust, and debris commonly found in and around a leaf cuvette. Plus, all accessories are plug-and-play, designed perfectly for field research.
The level of environmental control in the field with the CIRAS-4 is unsurpassed. The CIRAS-4 offers complete, independent, and automatic control of CO2, H2O, temperature, and light for response curves (i.e., A/Ci curves, light response, etc.) with real-time response. Control over all environmental parameters can be dynamic or pre-programmed for automated response curve generation. All power required for environmental control is provided by the internal rechargeable Li-ion batteries (no external power supply is required).
Unlike some systems, automatic CO2 control is standard with the CIRAS-4. Automatic and programmable CO2 control is standard with the CIRAS-4. PP Systems pioneered the method of controlling CO2 back in 1992 (CIRAS-1) using mini CO2 cartridges that are commercially available and easily sourced worldwide. Our proprietary gas mixing technology and CO2 regulator provide an accurate, stable, and constant flow of CO2. Each CO2 cartridge provides at least 12 hours of continuous use in the field and our CO2 regulator and cartridge holder are maintenance free. If required, the CIRAS-4 can easily be connected to an external CO2 source as well as programmed and configured for ambient CO2 measurements.
Measurement Range: 0 – 10000 µmol mol-1
Control Range: 0 – 2000 µmol mol-1
PP Systems also pioneered the method of controlling H2O automatically. Programmable H2O control is standard on the CIRAS-4. Onboard, self-conditioning desiccants are used for controlling H2O via user-defined settings. The CIRAS-4 can control H2O based on a percentage of ambient, VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit), or a specific H2O concentration. The CIRAS-4 can easily be programmed for H2O measurements above and below ambient, and can also be configured for ambient H2O measurements.
- Measurement Range: 0 – 75 mmol m-1
- Control Range: 0 – Dewpoint
The CIRAS-4 features the widest range, as well as the fastest and most reliable temperature control in the industry. Each leaf cuvette’s integral automatic temperature control is highly accurate and stable. Peltier coolers with heat sink and fan are mounted on all cuvette heads for precise control over a wide range of temperatures. The CIRAS-4 can be programmed to control to a specific leaf temperature, a specific cuvette air temperature or to track leaf to ambient. Temperature control can also be disabled.
- Temperature Control Range: 12 oC below ambient to 15 oC above ambient
- Ambient Temperature Limits: 0-45 oC
Automatic control of light intensity is achieved with our compact, low-power lightweight LED (RGBW-FR) light units available for each of our PLC4 Leaf Cuvettes.
- Measurement Range: 0 – 3000 µmol m-2 s-1
- Control Range: 0 – 2500 µmol m-2 s-1
Each light unit features a bank of red, green, blue, and white LEDs as well as far-red LEDs to allow users control of up to 30% of PFD light intensity. In addition to controlling light intensity, you can also control the proportion of light by wavelength, which can be especially useful for research on plant responses to different wavelengths.
When evaluating the different types of portable photosynthesis systems on the market, it’s very important to consider not only size and portability, but system volume as well. Size and chamber volume are critically important when it comes to rapid, accurate measurement of leaf gas exchange. The CIRAS-4 Portable Photosynthesis System’s small system volume ensures faster equilibration time resulting in the most rapid and accurate measurements available. These simulators will help to illustrate why.
This model illustrates the fundamental process of exponential dilution, in which flow rate and volume are the only variables that really matter. Select the Dilution Model tab and use the sliders to adjust the parameters. Calculate to watch the concentrations change in real time.
As you will clearly see, chambers with smaller system volume have fundamental speed advantages over chambers with large volume.
CIRAS-4 Model:Based on the CIRAS-4 Portable Photosynthesis System including our PLC4 Universal Leaf Cuvette, this model demonstrates the transport time to move analysis (sample) gas back to the CIRAS-4 console. Also shown for comparison purposes is a typical IRGA-in-the-head system with much larger cuvette volume (~ 80 – 140 cc).
Lightweight. Fast. Precise.
- Head plates secured with magnets - no tools needed!
- Automatic temperature control
- Airtight seal without damage to vegetation
- Fastest response to CO2 and H2O changes
- Minimal boundary layer resistance
- Optional LED Light Unit (RGBW-FR)
No tools required.
Head plates are secured in place by magnets for quick and easy change out in the lab or field.
Rulers on apertures.
Rulers are available on larger head plates to assist with better leaf area approximation.
Minimal boundary layer resistance.
Advanced air mixing inside the chamber reduces boundary layer resistance.
Temperature control
All PLC4 Leaf Cuvettes offer a temperature control range of approximately 12°C below ambient up to 15°C above ambient with 0.1°C precision.
Easy and accurate leak diagnosis.
Direct pressure measurement inside the cuvette for easy and accurate leak diagnosis.
The PLC4 Universal Leaf Cuvette comes with three interchangeable head plates and is compatible with the CFM-4 Chlorophyll Fluorescence Module for simultaneous measurement of leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence.
Automatic control.
Optional light units are available for automatic control of light for all PLC4 leaf cuvettes. Each light unit features a bank of red, green, blue, and white LEDs, allowing for automatic control of both light intensity up to 2500 μmol m-2 s-1 and proportion (%) of light by wavelength. All light units are designed to ensure uniform light distribution over the entire leaf area for accurate results.
Far-red.
Our PLC4 LED light units are the only cuvette light units available with 4 far-red LEDs (730 nm +/- 5 nm). CIRAS-4 users will be able to control far-red up to 30% of Photon Flux Density (PFD), allowing for more accurate recreation of natural light.
Far-red (700-750 nm) is about 18% of the photon flux in sunlight, and far-red makes up an even more significant fraction of the photon flux in understory conditions. Recent research has shown that this far-red light is photosynthetically active. Taking photosynthesis measurements with a light spectrum that does not include far-red (e.g., white or red/green/blue LEDs) will result in lower photosynthetic rates compared to photosynthetic rates under sunlight (with the same PFD). Being able to control the amount of far-red light during photosynthesis measurements will more accurately mimic rates under sunlight or understory conditions. CIRAS-4 users can control far-red up to 30% of Photon Flux Density (PFD), allowing users to recreate the natural light environment more accurately.
The CFM-4 is capable of delivering high-saturating pulses up to 10000 µmol m-2 s-1 which is extremely useful in accommodating a wider range of ambient light conditions. The CIRAS-4 is the only system available that features our innovative MultiPulse™ technology.
MultiPulse produces a sequence of user-defined, lower-saturating pulse light levels, avoiding the risk of photodamage to the leaf while accurately estimating apparent Fm‘.
A pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) fluorometer, the CFM-4 provides both dark- and light-adapted chlorophyll fluorescence measurement parameters including photochemical vs. non-photochemical quenching and electron transport rate.
Automatic controlThe CFM-4 offers automatic control of temperature and light intensity (0-2500 µmol m-2 s-1) as well as ratio of red/green/blue/white LEDs, and far-red (0-30% of PAR).
A multi-use accessory!The CFM-4 is elegantly designed with all light sources and fluorescence detection capabilities built directly into one lightweight, compact unit. The CFM-4 can also act as an actinic light source for leaf gas exchange as well as a stand-alone fluorometer when leaf gas exchange data is not required.
When performing measurements of photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence that include an initial and/or concluding Fv/Fm measurement, the system will automatically generate a “fast fluorescence” file containing the fast-induction kinetics data needed for more detailed OJIP analysis based on the Fv/Fm measurements, and post-processing couldn’t be faster or easier!