Biosphere II

Do you remember the movie Bio-Dome with Pauly Shore? well, this wasn't exactly like that but still fun :) It's a little drive from Tucson, seems like you go north for quite some time, but then you are there, out in the middle of no-where. There is free range cattle grazing (no fences) and now there is a home sub-division going in. Crazy. We took the tour and then we went back to check out where the scientists stayed during the first closed mission which lasted from September 26, 1991 to September 26, 1993. That was very interesting.

Coming down the stretch of road towards the 3.15 acres of enclosed science lab.	Heading down towards the entrance; this first pyramid shaped biome houses the rain forest.

the buildings that are white with darker "diamonds" are the old living quarters for the scientist's that were part of the closed missions. The more rounded dome to the right is one of the "lungs" (more later).	Allison getting ready to head out with our tour group.

The ocean biome, looking towards the wave maker and water recycler.	Looking towards the beach. There were a couple of people down there cleaning the windows (there is an area below where you can look into the water.

Looking out one of the windows towards the power generation buildings.	Looking down at our tour group in the Savanna area.

The desert biome, the cactus that has it's arm hanging down the rock is an octopus cactus, never seen one of those before.	After going through the various biomes, we went into the basement to see some of the inner workings. Lots of water being pumped around to make rain in the various biomes.

Listening to Billy, our tour guide. Behind him, you can see one of the pressurized doors that still exist. The Biosphere is not "closed" anymore, but you can see the remnants of it on the tour.	Another view of the ocean from down below. There are fish and corals living in this small version.

The rain forest biome, you can't see her, but there is a researcher sitting under one of the trees doing her "thing".	Jim and Jim checking things out, but not much to see but lots of green and dirt.

We are now heading into the South Lung. There is one on each end of the Biosphere 2.	Heading down the tunnel, Jim and Allison in front of me, we dropped a few feet.
It is possible, since Biosphere 2 is so well sealed, that it could explode as the air heats up during the day and it could implode as the air cools at night if there is no way to move the air. Underground air tunnels connect the lungs to Bio 2. Inside the lungs, a giant synthetic rubber membrane with a circular metal disk floats freely on a cushion of air and rises and falls as the air expands (heats) and contracts (cools).

Here is the disk and rubber "diaphragm". To the left is a reservoir for holding the extra water that is used in the Biosphere.	Bill opened a door and as the air left the lung, the disk started falling slowly towards the ground. If you look at the left picture and this picture, compare where the feet of the posts are in comparison to the black lines mid way up the walls. It was VERY interesting, probably the most interesting thing here.

We are done with the tour, but have to head back to the main entrance to get back in so that we can check out the old living quarters and where they use to grow their food.	This is a coffee tree. You can see the coffee beans along the branches. The scientists had to grow there own food including their coffee. They only got one cup of coffee every 2 weeks. Not sure I could live with that.

Another view of the top of one of the "lung" domes.	Looking out towards the mountains with a huge clump of yucca blooms. This would have been part of the view from the living quarters.
We walked and we walked, we climbed stairs and then we climbed them again. It seemed we were going around in circles, which we were. I think we got our exercise for the day and had some fun scenery to enjoy while doing it.