Biosphere II

Biosphère II is an experimental site built to reproduce a closed artificial ecological system. It is in the desert of the Arizona and it was built between 1987 and 1989 by Space Biosphere Ventures, a company whose promoters were John Allen and Margret Augustine. The purpose of this structure was to try to recreate a viable ecosystem inside an immense closed dome. It had inter alia objectives to evaluate the feasibility of Biosphère S identical at the time of the space colonization. The experiment was baptized Biosphère 2 by considering that the Ground is “Biosphere 1”. The required funds, evaluated with 200.000.000 $ were provided by Edward Bass.

To date, in June 2006, the zone is not used any more with fine scientists: located in the periphery of Tucson, it interests the property developers who hope to build residences there.

History

Missions

Two missions were carried out in the sealed dome. First of the September 26th 1991 with the September 26th 1993 lasted. Second six months in 1994 lasted.

The team of the first mission consisted of eight scientists, doctors and researchers: Roy Walford, Jane Poynter, Taber McCullum, Nelson Mark, Sally Silverstone, Abigail Alling, Mark Van Thillo and Linda Leigh.

At the time of the mission, food autarky was in particular ensured by cultures. the potato and banana seedlings pushed very well, representing a significant source of food for the team.

However during this first mission, one realized that the level of Oxygène in the dome decreased by 0.5% per month, without possibility of finding the balance which would ensure its stability. At one time, the interior atmosphere became comparable with that which one can find with 1200 meters of altitude, gradually the level became so much low, which certain members of the team fell sick, and it was absolutely necessary artificially to introduce oxygen coming from outside inside the dome, which made lose any credibility with the mission.

These problems athmospheric were mainly due to the weak external luminosity, this year there indeed time was particularly bad in Arizona, and the Photosynthèse, which was to produce oxygen enough to ensure balance, could not be sufficient. One also realized that the structure even of the sphere, blocked a big part of the luminous rays.

To explain this strong oxygen fall, some suspectèrent the role of the Microbe S introduced into the agricultural ground of the sections, savanna and the tropical forest, in order to facilitate the growth of the plants. The quantity of Carbone contained in the ground at the beginning of the experiment proved too important, the microbes thus transformed all the carbon of the ground into Carbon dioxide, thus consuming too much oxygen. If the rates of CO₂ did not assemble in an alarming way, it is that this gas seems to be absorbed progressively by the Béton constituting the base of the dome.

According to Neil Campbell and Jane Reece, Biosphere 2 suffered from very fluctuating levels of CO₂, and almost all the pollinating species the vertebrate ones and all insects died. There was a proliferation of cockroaches and other vermin, which had to be contained. The ants were deliberately not introduced into the habitat but a local species developed very well.

In 1995, the management of Biosphère 2 was entrusted to the Université of Columbia. Since 1996, more than 1200 students spent one year in this center (figure going back to 2003). The site has now of a hotel and a center of conference, and the Université was released some.

This project did not last two years considering the failure concerning the cycle of oxygen. Biosphère 2 was created because the researchers wanted to see whether it would have been possible to make such an experiment over Mars to be able to live on its surface. This project had the merit to show the difficulty in controlling an ecosystem, and should encourage with the reflection on the future of our planet.

References

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