MICRO-PAM Compact Fluorometer for Long-term Monitoring of Photosynthesis. Multi-site recording of photosynthesis in the field from lichens to trees.
A MICRO-PAM system involves several light-weight chlorophyll fluorometers for field use. Being capable of multi-site monitoring of photosynthesis over weeks and months, the MICRO-PAM is tailored to study plant responses to environmental changes in nature and under controlled conditions. Due to its compact measuring heads, the MICRO-PAM is suited for smaller samples than those typically probed by the established MONITORING-PAM.
Originally, the MICRO-PAM has been developed to measure photosynthesis of lichens growing on rocks or in biological soil crusts. The actual field of application includes herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. In addition to determining photosynthesis yield by the saturation pulse technique, the measuring heads record light intensity and temperature by external sensors, and humidity by an internal sensor.
ONLINE Configuration
Measuring Head MICRO-HEAD/3B
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General Design |
Housing: Polymer housing with optical block and fiber connector on one side, and a combined power line/RS485 socket on the opposite side |
MICRO HEAD/BK Leaf Clip: Consisting of 2 aluminum frames (3.5 x 2.5 cm), held together by magnet, 0.4 cm distance between sample plane of leaf clip and lightguide, angle between sample plane and optical light guide: 60° |
Cables: RS 485 data/power cable, 10 m standard length, connecting MICRO-HEAD/3B and MICRO IB4 PC Interface Box. RS 485 adapter cable, 0.6 m long, to connect MICRO-HEAD/3B to optional PC Interface Box MONI IB4/LAN or to optional MONI DA system for data acquisition |
Flexible stand: Baseplate of acrylic glass 10 x 10 x 0.5 cm (L x W x H); flexible goose neck consisting of 20 links, 1.7 cm maximum diameter, 30 cm length, one end with metal thread equipped with 1 butterfly nut, 1 nut and 2 washers. Weight 114 g |
Dimensions: Complete head with leaf clip, 13.5 x 3.5 x 4 cm (L x W x H) |
Power consumption: Peak loads during saturating pulses 3 W. During measuring mode 0.15 W |
Operating temperature: -15 to +40 °C |
Weight: 96 g |
Light Emission |
Modulated fluorescence excitation: Blue power LED (typical peak wavelength 470 nm, full width at half maximum 22 nm). Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of measuring light at level of the sample clip range from 0.15 to 1.5 μmol m-2 s-1 at low modulation frequencies (5 to 25 Hz), and from 1.5 to 22.5 μmol m-2 s-1 at high modulation frequencies (100 Hz) |
Actinic light: Same power LED as for modulated light. At sample level of leaf clip, 3000 μmol m-2 s -1span> maximum PAR of actinic light, 8000 μmol m-2 s-1 maximum PAR of saturating flashes |
Sensors |
Fluorescence: PIN-photodiode protected by longpass filter (50% transmittance at 645 nm). Selective window amplifier to measure pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence. |
Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR): External LS-C sensor for selective PAR measurement, range 0 to 7000 μmol m-2 s-1, cosine-corrected for light incident at angles between -30° to +30° from the surface normal |
Temperature: Thermocouple: Ni-CrNi, wire diameter 0.1 mm, -20 to +60 °C |
Humidity: Capacitive-type humidity sensor on a specialized analog and digital integrated circuit, 0 – 100% relative humidity |
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PC Interface Box MICRO-IB4
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Housing: Aluminum case with USB-B socket, power supply socket, and four M12 5-pole sockets for RS-485 communication |
Links: The interface box connects up to four MICRO-HEAD/3B Measuring Heads with a computer. These connection cables also power the measuring heads. USB communication is used between interface box and computer |
Cables: Recommended maximum lengths, 10 m RS-485 cable between measuring head and interface, 1.8 m USB cable between interface and computer |
Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 3.5 cm (L x W x H) |
Operating temperature: 0 to +40 °C |
Weight: 270 g |
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Software WinControl-3
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Program: WinControl-3 System Control and Data Acquisition Program (Windows 8, 10) for operation of the MICRO-PAM system, data acquisition and data analysis |
Saturation Pulse Analysis: WinControl-3 System Control and Data Acquisition Program (Windows 8, 10) for operation of the MICRO-PAM system, data acquisition and data analysis |
Program: Measured: Ft, F0, FM, F, F0‘ (also calculated), FM‘. Calculated: F0‘ (also measured), FV/FM and Y(II) (maximum and effective photochemical yield of PS II, respectively), qL, qP, qN, NPQ, Y(NPQ), Y(NO) and ETR (electron transport rate). Fitting Routines: Two routines for determination of the cardinal points α, Ik and ETRmax of light curves |
Further date acquired: PAR, leaf temperature, humidity |
Additional feature: Automatic determination of signal offset for all light intensities and all gain levels |
Communication Protocol: USB |
Computer Requirements: Processor, 1 GHz. RAM, 512 MB. Screen resolution, 1024 x 600 pixels. Interface, USB 2.0/3.0 |
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Transport Box
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Design: Aluminum box with custom foam packing for MICRO-PAM |
Dimensions: 60 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (L x W x H); 42 liter |
Weight: 4.7 kg |
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STAND-ALONE Configuration
Measuring Head MICRO-HEAD/3B
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As described for ONLINE configuration |
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Data Acquisition MONI-DA
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General Design |
Housing: Robust water-proof cylinder consisting of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube and poly-oxymethylene (POM) endplates. One endplate with 2 male M12 5-pole sockets connected in parallel (MONI-IB4/LAN communication, charging voltage), one male M12 5-pole socket for auxiliaries, and 7 female M12 5-pole sockets (MONI-HEAD/485 communication) |
Dimensions: Cylinder with diameter of 16 cm and length of 24 cm |
Data management: Dual data storage on internal 8 MByte circular flash buffer and an industrial grade 512 MByte removable microSD flash card. Wireless data transfer via cellular phone or satellite modem. Online data transfer using RS-485 serial data communication. |
Power consumption: 5 mW in standby mode. Operating mode, depends on the number of MONIHEAD/485 connected (see MONI-HEAD/485 power consumption) |
Battery: 12 V / 7.5 Ah (96 Wh) LiFePO4 battery. |
Operating temperature: -30 to +60 °C |
Weight: 5.4 kg |
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Transport Box
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Design: Aluminum box with custom foam packing for MICRO-PAM |
Dimensions: 60 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (L x W x H); 42 liter |
Weight: 4.7 kg |
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PC Interface Box MONI-IB1
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Housing: Aluminum case with USB-B socket, power supply socket, and M12 5-pole socket for RS-485 communication |
Links: The interface box connects a computer with a MONI-DA using RS-485 serial data communication. The same line is used to charge the MONI-DA battery. USB communication is used between interface box and computer |
Recommended maximum cables lengths: To computer via USB: 2 m. To MONI-DA via RS-485, 100 m |
Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 3.5 cm (L x W x H) |
Operating temperature: 0 to +40 °C |
Weight: 270 g |
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Solar Panel MONI-SP
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Design: Polycrystalline silicon panel. Highly resistant to water, abrasion, hail impact and other severe weather conditions. Equipped with a 4 m cable and plug for the AUX or INPUT socket of the Data Acquisition System MONI-DA. Several panels can be connected in parallel to provide sufficient power under conditions of low insolation |
Electrical characteristics: Vmax, 15.0 V, Imax, 0.63 A (at 1000 W/m2 sunlight). VOC, 19.6 V. ISC, 0.80 A |
Dimensions: 50 x 35 cm (L x W) |
Weight: 1.2 kg (incl. cable and plug) |
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Fluorometer Software and Computer Minimum Requirements
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As described for ONLINE configuration |
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STAND-ALONE Accessories
Four-Way Distributor MICRO-HUB
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Housing: Aluminum case with one M12 5-pole connector and four M8 5-pole connectors |
Links: The interface box connects up to four MICRO-HEAD/3B Measuring Heads to one single MONI-BUS port of a MONI-DA data acquisition system |
Recommended maximum cable lengths: 10 m between MICRO-HEAD/3B and MICRO-HUB, and between MICRO-HUB and MONI-DA |
Weight: 228 g |
Operating temperature: -30 to +60 °C |
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PC Interface USB-0
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Housing: Plastic block with one USB-B line and one line for RS-485 communication firmly attached |
Interfacing: The interface cable connects a USB port of a computer with the input socket of the MONI-DA. |
Cable lengths: USB: 0.9 m. RS-485, 2 m |
Dimensions of block: 4.5 x 3.0 x 1.5 cm (L x W x H) |
Weight including cables: 145 g |
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Transport Box
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Design: Aluminum box with custom foam packing for MICRO-PAM |
Dimensions: 60 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (L x W x H); 42 liter |
Weight: 4.7 kg |
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Measuring Head MICRO-HEAD/3B
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As described for ONLINE configuration |
|
ONLINE Configuration
Measuring Head MICRO-HEAD/3B
|
General Design |
Housing: Polymer housing with optical block and fiber connector on one side, and a combined power line/RS485 socket on the opposite side |
MICRO HEAD/BK Leaf Clip: Consisting of 2 aluminum frames (3.5 x 2.5 cm), held together by magnet, 0.4 cm distance between sample plane of leaf clip and lightguide, angle between sample plane and optical light guide: 60° |
Cables: RS 485 data/power cable, 10 m standard length, connecting MICRO-HEAD/3B and MICRO IB4 PC Interface Box. RS 485 adapter cable, 0.6 m long, to connect MICRO-HEAD/3B to optional PC Interface Box MONI IB4/LAN or to optional MONI DA system for data acquisition |
Flexible stand: Baseplate of acrylic glass 10 x 10 x 0.5 cm (L x W x H); flexible goose neck consisting of 20 links, 1.7 cm maximum diameter, 30 cm length, one end with metal thread equipped with 1 butterfly nut, 1 nut and 2 washers. Weight 114 g |
Dimensions: Complete head with leaf clip, 13.5 x 3.5 x 4 cm (L x W x H) |
Power consumption: Peak loads during saturating pulses 3 W. During measuring mode 0.15 W |
Operating temperature: -15 to +40 °C |
Weight: 96 g |
Light Emission |
Modulated fluorescence excitation: Blue power LED (typical peak wavelength 470 nm, full width at half maximum 22 nm). Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of measuring light at level of the sample clip range from 0.15 to 1.5 μmol m-2 s-1 at low modulation frequencies (5 to 25 Hz), and from 1.5 to 22.5 μmol m-2 s-1 at high modulation frequencies (100 Hz) |
Actinic light: Same power LED as for modulated light. At sample level of leaf clip, 3000 μmol m-2 s -1span> maximum PAR of actinic light, 8000 μmol m-2 s-1 maximum PAR of saturating flashes |
Sensors |
Fluorescence: PIN-photodiode protected by longpass filter (50% transmittance at 645 nm). Selective window amplifier to measure pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorescence. |
Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR): External LS-C sensor for selective PAR measurement, range 0 to 7000 μmol m-2 s-1, cosine-corrected for light incident at angles between -30° to +30° from the surface normal |
Temperature: Thermocouple: Ni-CrNi, wire diameter 0.1 mm, -20 to +60 °C |
Humidity: Capacitive-type humidity sensor on a specialized analog and digital integrated circuit, 0 – 100% relative humidity |
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PC Interface Box MICRO-IB4
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Housing: Aluminum case with USB-B socket, power supply socket, and four M12 5-pole sockets for RS-485 communication |
Links: The interface box connects up to four MICRO-HEAD/3B Measuring Heads with a computer. These connection cables also power the measuring heads. USB communication is used between interface box and computer |
Cables: Recommended maximum lengths, 10 m RS-485 cable between measuring head and interface, 1.8 m USB cable between interface and computer |
Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 3.5 cm (L x W x H) |
Operating temperature: 0 to +40 °C |
Weight: 270 g |
|
Software WinControl-3
|
Program: WinControl-3 System Control and Data Acquisition Program (Windows 8, 10) for operation of the MICRO-PAM system, data acquisition and data analysis |
Saturation Pulse Analysis: WinControl-3 System Control and Data Acquisition Program (Windows 8, 10) for operation of the MICRO-PAM system, data acquisition and data analysis |
Program: Measured: Ft, F0, FM, F, F0‘ (also calculated), FM‘. Calculated: F0‘ (also measured), FV/FM and Y(II) (maximum and effective photochemical yield of PS II, respectively), qL, qP, qN, NPQ, Y(NPQ), Y(NO) and ETR (electron transport rate). Fitting Routines: Two routines for determination of the cardinal points α, Ik and ETRmax of light curves |
Further date acquired: PAR, leaf temperature, humidity |
Additional feature: Automatic determination of signal offset for all light intensities and all gain levels |
Communication Protocol: USB |
Computer Requirements: Processor, 1 GHz. RAM, 512 MB. Screen resolution, 1024 x 600 pixels. Interface, USB 2.0/3.0 |
|
Transport Box
|
Design: Aluminum box with custom foam packing for MICRO-PAM |
Dimensions: 60 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (L x W x H); 42 liter |
Weight: 4.7 kg |
|
STAND-ALONE Configuration
Measuring Head MICRO-HEAD/3B
|
As described for ONLINE configuration |
|
Data Acquisition MONI-DA
|
General Design |
Housing: Robust water-proof cylinder consisting of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube and poly-oxymethylene (POM) endplates. One endplate with 2 male M12 5-pole sockets connected in parallel (MONI-IB4/LAN communication, charging voltage), one male M12 5-pole socket for auxiliaries, and 7 female M12 5-pole sockets (MONI-HEAD/485 communication) |
Dimensions: Cylinder with diameter of 16 cm and length of 24 cm |
Data management: Dual data storage on internal 8 MByte circular flash buffer and an industrial grade 512 MByte removable microSD flash card. Wireless data transfer via cellular phone or satellite modem. Online data transfer using RS-485 serial data communication. |
Power consumption: 5 mW in standby mode. Operating mode, depends on the number of MONIHEAD/485 connected (see MONI-HEAD/485 power consumption) |
Battery: 12 V / 7.5 Ah (96 Wh) LiFePO4 battery. |
Operating temperature: -30 to +60 °C |
Weight: 5.4 kg |
|
Transport Box
|
Design: Aluminum box with custom foam packing for MICRO-PAM |
Dimensions: 60 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (L x W x H); 42 liter |
Weight: 4.7 kg |
|
PC Interface Box MONI-IB1
|
Housing: Aluminum case with USB-B socket, power supply socket, and M12 5-pole socket for RS-485 communication |
Links: The interface box connects a computer with a MONI-DA using RS-485 serial data communication. The same line is used to charge the MONI-DA battery. USB communication is used between interface box and computer |
Recommended maximum cables lengths: To computer via USB: 2 m. To MONI-DA via RS-485, 100 m |
Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 3.5 cm (L x W x H) |
Operating temperature: 0 to +40 °C |
Weight: 270 g |
|
Solar Panel MONI-SP
|
Design: Polycrystalline silicon panel. Highly resistant to water, abrasion, hail impact and other severe weather conditions. Equipped with a 4 m cable and plug for the AUX or INPUT socket of the Data Acquisition System MONI-DA. Several panels can be connected in parallel to provide sufficient power under conditions of low insolation |
Electrical characteristics: Vmax, 15.0 V, Imax, 0.63 A (at 1000 W/m2 sunlight). VOC, 19.6 V. ISC, 0.80 A |
Dimensions: 50 x 35 cm (L x W) |
Weight: 1.2 kg (incl. cable and plug) |
|
Fluorometer Software and Computer Minimum Requirements
|
As described for ONLINE configuration |
|
STAND-ALONE Accessories
Four-Way Distributor MICRO-HUB
|
Housing: Aluminum case with one M12 5-pole connector and four M8 5-pole connectors |
Links: The interface box connects up to four MICRO-HEAD/3B Measuring Heads to one single MONI-BUS port of a MONI-DA data acquisition system |
Recommended maximum cable lengths: 10 m between MICRO-HEAD/3B and MICRO-HUB, and between MICRO-HUB and MONI-DA |
Weight: 228 g |
Operating temperature: -30 to +60 °C |
|
PC Interface USB-0
|
Housing: Plastic block with one USB-B line and one line for RS-485 communication firmly attached |
Interfacing: The interface cable connects a USB port of a computer with the input socket of the MONI-DA. |
Cable lengths: USB: 0.9 m. RS-485, 2 m |
Dimensions of block: 4.5 x 3.0 x 1.5 cm (L x W x H) |
Weight including cables: 145 g |
|
Transport Box
|
Design: Aluminum box with custom foam packing for MICRO-PAM |
Dimensions: 60 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (L x W x H); 42 liter |
Weight: 4.7 kg |
|
Measuring Head MICRO-HEAD/3B
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As described for ONLINE configuration |
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