This parametric equation model simulates the physiological response, specifically CO₂ gas exchange rates of biocrusts as a function of soil moisture, temperature and light intensity.
The model currently addresses two types of biocrusts, one dominated by cyanobacteria and cyanolichens ("cyano") and one biocrust dominated by cholorolichen ("lichen"). The models were trained using laboratory measurements of CO₂ gas exchange rates as training data.
Note to Users: if you use results from our Biocrust Gas Exchange Model, please cite the paper listed below and this website giving the URL (http://www.multiphasekinetics.org/biocrust).
Krüger, M., Alves, R. P., Kratz, A., Kim, M., Weber, B., and Berkemeier, T.: Towards an annual carbon balance of biological soil crusts: parametric equations and neural networks to model gas exchange and net primary productivity, EGUsphere [preprint], (2026).