Biosphere 2, the Buildings

I have been wanting to take this road trip for the last 4 seasons. I thought I learned about Biosphere 2 reading a Weekly Reader when I was teaching 3rd & 4th graders (1976-1984). That can't be since building for the project began in 1986.

This is Biosphere 2, a self-contained living space for 8 people, some animals, some farm land and 5 recreated biomes from 1991-1993. (2 years and 20 minutes) There was a second, short-lived mission in 1993-1994.

This is 2 of the 3 agricultural domes. They farmed 1/2 acre of land which produced 84% of their food. They raised rice, beets, sweet potatoes, peanuts, beans, & wheat in the 3 "buildings". The second year the researchers produced more than a ton of food. Pygmy goats, chickens and some pigs were also sharing the agricultural area. Milk from the goats was turned into cheese. The pigs were eaten early on. The chickens lasted longer, as long as they laid eggs. Tilapia fish were raised in the rice paddies.

This is one of two "lungs" which provided air pressure/volume control to the biosphere. As the temperatures inside the biosphere heated and expanded during the day but cooled and contracted at night, the lungs helped control air pressure/volume levels.

This mid-eastern building design, one building with 5 'humps', was the electrical control center for the biosphere.

This structure was the habitat, the area where the 8 people lived when not working inside the biosphere. (The agricultural center is directly behind.) Each person had their own 2 story apartment and shared a bathroom with another researcher. There were 4 women and 4 men, only one of which was a medical doctor. They were housed in two wings with a research lab, computers and library between the two wings. There was a kitchen and dining area, too. They worked 12 hours a day on biosphere business and survival, living on 1200 calories. They got 1 cup of coffee every two weeks.

Biosphere 2 is in the Santa Catalina Mountains which are snow covered this week due to the rain and cool temps. If it does get to 80 by next week, the snow may be gone from the mountain peaks.

I got most of my info from Wikipedia and today's guide, Bob. For more interesting info Google Biosphere 2.

More pictures tomorrow.