Mesocosms

The Mesocosms platform houses 18 identical and independent experimental units. Each experimental unit consists of a transparent FEP enclosure with a volume of 4m³ and a technical room housing a soil monolith of up to 1m³ and a vegetation surface of up to 1m².

Based on the same operating principle, which has already proven effective on the macrocosm platform, mesocosm experimental units enable the simulation and measurement of a wide range of environmental scenarios while offering a higher number of replicates, more sensitive flux measurements, CO₂ regulation ranging from pre-industrial levels to several times ambient levels, and continuous 13C labeling.

Designed as a flexible research tool, each unit measures ecosystem fluxes of photosynthesis, respiration, and evapotranspiration, as well as those of the main greenhouse gases (CH₄ and N₂O). The modular design of the “soil” compartment allows for flexibility in meeting different monolith size requirements, and the choice of light source—natural or artificial—gives this system an additional advantage in terms of the range of climate simulations it can perform.

The first 18 experimental units have been fully operational since the end of 2018.