Biosphere 2

North of Tucson, nestled alongside the Catalina Mountains rests the world renowned Biosphere 2. This conceptual and engineering marvel was created to better understand how natural environments generate conditions appropriate for life.

Don, Wanda and George at the entrance to Biosphere 2,

The main rainforest building is the tallest of the buildings.

Biosphere 2 is one of the largest greenhouses in the world, and one of the most remarkable structures ever built.  It houses living organisms from five natural biomes comprising more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, research areas, and the former human habitat.  Beneath this structure, miles of pipes, tubes and wiring, wastewater tanks and other facilities make up a "technosphere" designed to recreate the Earth's recycling functions.  The dome-shaped "lungs" beyond the main Biosphere 2 building are connected to the main structure by tunnels.  They allow for air expansion due to changes in pressure inside the greenhouse.  The whole building is sealed off from the desert soil by a welded 500 ton, 1/8th" thick stainless steel liner.

Entering Biosphere 2 for the tour.

Can't imagine being sealed in for two years!!

The rainforest biome.

The salt water ocean.

The desert biome.

The technosphere underneath the biomes is full of pipes and tanks that keep everything working.

Inside one of the "lungs, necessary when Biosphere 2 was sealed off from the outside world. 

The black area is like a huge inner tube, that can expand and contract 

as the air inside the biosphere heats and cools seasonally and daily.

One of the two "lungs" from the outside.

The electrical system is separate from the biosphere.   If solar panels had been used to obtain electricity for this location the cost of building would have gone up 5 times.  

Electricity is produced in these buildings.

This area of greenhouses was used to grow food during the initial experiment of housing humans in Biosphere 2, now it is being used for LEO experiments.

The Landscape Evolution Observatory, or LEO, consists of three artificial 'hillslopes' constructed in the controlled environment of an immense greenhouse so that researchers can measure everything that goes in and out and how things change.  Currently scientists are studying the water cycle.  They have placed tons of dirt on the slopes, are adding measured amounts of water and are studying the changes in the water and gases that are produced.  Soon they will add plants and continue the study.  Ultimately they hope to address climate change challenges.

In the early 90's Biosphere housed 8 scientists.  This is an example of one of the living quarters. 

 The bedroom is up the circular stairs you can just see to the right.

Here is the kitchen facility where the 8 scientists took turns preparing meals 

from the food grown within the biosphere.