Gas exchange system flow configuration

1. A gas exchange analysis sensor head apparatus comprising:

an active flow splitting device having a first output port and a second output port, the active flow splitting device configured to variably split an incoming gas flow in continuously varying proportions between the first and second output ports;

a sample chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet coupled with the first output port of the active flow splitting device;

a first gas analyzer coupled with the outlet of the sample chamber and configured to measure a concentration of a gas;

a second gas analyzer directly coupled with the second output port of the active flow splitting device and configured to measure a concentration of said gas;

a flow meter directly coupled with the first output port of the active flow splitting device and the inlet of the sample chamber, the flow meter configured to measure a flow rate between the active flow splitting device and the inlet of the sample chamber; and

a feedback control circuit adapted to control the active flow splitting device to adjust the incoming gas flow to the first and second output ports responsive to a flow rate signal from the flow meter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein flow meter is coupled between the first output port of the active flow splitting device and the inlet of the sample chamber, the feedback control circuit controlling gas flow based on flow to the sample chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein measurements from the first and second gas analyzers are configured to be compared, thereby comparing gas analyzed from the sample chamber with excess gas diverted by the flow splitting device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the feedback control circuit controls a gas flow to a user-selected flow rate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the active flow splitting device includes a piezoelectric material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the active flow splitting device comprises:

a piezoresistive actuator having a first end secured within the active flow splitting device and a second end located proximal to both the first and second output ports of the active flow splitting device; and

electrical contacts operatively coupled with the piezoresistive actuator, configured to apply a voltage to control a position of the second end relative to the first and second output ports and thereby control the flow ratio to the first and second output ports.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the actuator includes a metal strip coated on at least one side with a piezo-bender material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the piezo-bender material comprises lithium tantalite.

9. The sensor head of claim 6 , wherein an applied control potential controls the second end of the piezoresistive actuator to adjust the position of the second end relative to the first and second output ports such as to controllably adjust a flow ratio of between about 0% to 100% to the first output port and concomitantly between about 100% to 0% to the second output port.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the active flow splitting device is configured to adjust a flow ratio of the flow meter such that an incoming gas flow is split between about 0% to 100% to the first output port and concomitantly between about 100% to 0% to the second output port.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the active flow splitting device is located less than about 12 inches from the sample analysis chamber.

12. A method of measuring gas exchange, the method comprising:

flowing gas through an active flow splitting device having a first output port and a second output port, the active flow splitting device configured to variably split an incoming gas flow in continuously varying proportions between the first and second output ports;

flowing gas from the first output port of the active flow splitting device to a sample chamber having an inlet and an outlet;

flowing gas from the second output port of the active flow splitting device directly to a gas analyzer;

determining a concentration of gas flowing from the outlet of the sample chamber;

determining a concentration of gas flowing from the second output port of the active flow splitting device;

measuring a flow rate between the first output port of the active flow splitting device and the inlet of the sample chamber or between the second output port of the active flow splitting device and the second gas analyzer; and

sending feedback to the active flow splitting device based on the measured flow rate.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the active flow splitting device includes a piezoelectric element.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the feedback controls the active flow splitting device to establish a user-selected ratio.

15. A method of measuring a concentration of a gas in a gas exchange analysis system having a sample chamber defining a measurement volume for analysis of a sample, the sample chamber having an inlet port coupled with a gas source and an outlet port, the method comprising:

measuring a first concentration of a gas at the inlet port at each of a plurality of times;

measuring a second concentration of said gas at the outlet port at each of said plurality of times; and thereafter determining at each of said plurality of times a concentration differential between the first measured concentration and the second measured concentration; and

integrating the concentration differential over time.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

using the integrated concentration differential to calculate an evapotranspiration rate.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said gas includes CO 2 or H 2 O.

18. An open-path gas exchange analysis system, the system comprising:

an enclosed sample chamber having a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port;

a first gas analyzer configured to measure a first concentration of a gas entering the gas inlet port a plurality of times;

a second gas analyzer configured to measure a second concentration of said gas exiting the gas outlet port at the plurality of times; and

a processing module configured to determine at each of said plurality of times a concentration differential between the first measured concentration and the second measured concentration, and to integrate the concentration differential over time.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

using the integrated concentration differential to calculate an evapotranspiration rate.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein said gas includes CO 2 or H 2 O.

21. A gas exchange analysis sensor head apparatus comprising:

an active flow splitting device having a first output port and a second output port, the active flow splitting device configured to variably split an incoming gas flow in continuously varying proportions between the first and second output ports;

a sample chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet directly coupled with the first output port of the active flow splitting device;

a first gas analyzer coupled with the outlet of the sample chamber and configured to measure a concentration of a gas;

a second gas analyzer coupled with the second output port of the active flow splitting device and configured to measure a concentration of said gas;

a flow meter directly coupled with the second output port of the active flow splitting device and the second gas analyzer, the flow meter configured to measure a flow rate between the active flow splitting device and the second gas analyzer; and

a feedback control circuit adapted to control the active flow splitting device to adjust the incoming gas flow to the first and second output ports responsive to a flow rate signal from the flow meter.