Appendix 3.  Photosynthesis Equations Used in CIRAS-2 
 
CIRAS-2 Operator's Manual Version 2.04 
- 158 - 
(4.5) Then, 
 
 
 
 
 (4.6) It follows that stomatal conductance is the inverse of stomatal resistance: 
 
 
 
Step 5.0 
 
Determine the rate of net photosynthesis (A) from the difference between CO
2
 concentrations 
entering (C
in
) and leaving (C
out
) the cuvette 
 
 
(5.1) IRGA CO
2
 readings are  corrected for water vapor, temperature, and atmospheric pressure.   The 
addition of transpirational water vapor dilutes the air leaving the cuvette (C
out
), and this is compensated for 
in the calculation: 
 
   
 
 
 
(5.2) Therefore,   
 
 
 
 
CIRAS-2 calculates and displays the CO
2
 difference (C
out
 - C
in
). As relates to the calculated values in the 
CIRAS-2 display: 
 
 
 
Step 6.0 
 
Calculate CO
2
 concentration in the sub-stomatal cavity (C
i
) using the equation derived by von 
Caemmerer & Farquhar (Reference 3) 
 
 
(6.1)