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Calcimator

Carbon Flux Calculator

Calculate Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) from gross primary production and ecosystem respiration. Determine if an ecosystem is a carbon sink or source.

Inputs

gC/m²/yr
gC/m²/yr
hectares

Results

NEE

-200 gC/m²/yr

Flux Classification

Strong Carbon Sink

Net Ecosystem Production200 gC/m²/yr
Total Annual Carbon Flux-200 tonnes C
Total CO₂ Equivalent-732.8 tonnes CO₂
CO₂ per Hectare-7.33 tonnes CO₂/ha/yr
Carbon Use Efficiency0.17
Respiration Ratio (Rₑ/GPP)0.83
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Gross Primary Production (GPP) and Ecosystem Respiration in gC/m2/year.
  2. Input the Ecosystem Area in hectares.
  3. Review Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) — negative values indicate carbon uptake (carbon sink).
  4. Check Net Ecosystem Production and Total Annual Carbon Flux for the site.
  5. Use CO2 per Hectare and Carbon Use Efficiency to compare sites or model carbon credit potential.

How the result changes with Gross Primary Production (GPP)

Gross Primary Production (GPP)NEEFlux Classification
500500 gC/m²/yrStrong Carbon Source
1,750-750 gC/m²/yrStrong Carbon Sink
3,250-2,250 gC/m²/yrStrong Carbon Sink
4,500-3,500 gC/m²/yrStrong Carbon Sink

What each input means

Gross Primary Production (GPP)
Total carbon fixed by photosynthesis in grams of carbon per square meter per year. Typical: 500 (tundra) to 3000+ (tropical forest).
Ecosystem Respiration (Rₑ)
Total CO₂ released by autotrophic + heterotrophic respiration in gC/m²/yr. Usually 60-90% of GPP.
Ecosystem Area
Total area of the ecosystem being assessed in hectares (1 ha = 10,000 m²).

What each result means

NEE
Negative = carbon sink, Positive = carbon source.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    Gross Primary Production (GPP) = 1200, Ecosystem Respiration (Rₑ) = 1000, Ecosystem Area = 100 = 3 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate NEE
    NEE
    -200 = -200
  3. Calculate Flux Classification
    Strong Carbon Sink = Strong Carbon Sink
  4. Calculate Net Ecosystem Production
    Net Ecosystem Production
    200 = 200
  5. Calculate Total Annual Carbon Flux
    Total Annual Carbon Flux
    -200 = -200

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