Tucson – Biosphere 2 and Mount Lemon

Tucson – Biosphere 2 and Mount Lemon

We spent a month in Tucson Arizona enjoying the sun shine while winter passed up north.  Other than the dust and sand it was a very pleasant visit with many surprising and interesting places to see.  I’ll begin with the University of Arizona Science Center Biosphere 2, a creation made to better understand how natural environments generate conditions appropriate for life.  There, students study ecosystems under controlled conditions but at larger scales than available in a normal lab.  Water, soil, air, sun and life all interact to transfer energy and continually exchange nutrients and other materials. 

Space Biospheres Ventures built the current iconic facility and did research on self-sustaining space colonization technology. Some may remember the Human Missions 1 and 2 that took place from 1991 to 1994, where scientist’s lived within the controlled environment for months at a time. 

 

 

 

 

The  Biosphere  had to support life, both plant and  human life.  To do so there had to be a constant safe air pressure within the 'sphere' at all times.  In the desert it get really hot in the daytime and can get really cold at night.  This temperature change causes the pressure to change within the 'sphere'.   To much pressure and glass could break, the roof on parts of the 'sphere 'could lift and  destruction of the space could occur.  To solve this problem two "lungs" were built, one on the right and one on the left, both connected to the 'sphere' via hallways like the photo above.  The photos below show the 'lung'.  If the pressure were to rise the air would pass through the hall and into the 'lung' room.  This would cause the black rubber ceiling to rise taking on the extra pressure.  As the 'sphere' cooled the air would reverse, flow back into the 'sphere' and the ceiling would lower.  The white disc in the center and the metal legs coming down from the disc prevented the lung' from descending all the way to the floor, where it would lay like a dead balloon.  The dome the 'lung' is built in keeps it from over-filling and bursting like an over-filled balloon!  Of all the parts of the Bio-sphere I thought this was the most ingenious of plans!  While two lungs were built only one was ever needed and used.  To protect those living within the Bio-sphere redundant systems were built throughout so if one failed there was always the back up!  Below is a photo of the room with the ceiling disc, legs and equipment.  A photo of the black 'lung'. A photo of the 'lung' room build within a dome and the outside view of the dome.

 

More Biosphere 2 info and photos including experiments for our Mars missions.

 Biosphere 2 'art'!

 

Mount Lemon

Mount Lemon is a small beautiful mountain retreat for those who want to beat the heat of Tucson’s summers.

Along the drive up to the mount are these amazing rock formations called 'Hoodoo' rocks. 

A hoodoo (also called a tent rock, fairy chimney, and earth pyramid) is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland. Hoodoos, which may range from 4.9 to 147.6 ft. typically consist of relatively soft rock topped by harder, less easily eroded stone that protects each column from the elements. (Wikipedia)

Here is a sampling of some of the amazing views.

 

More coming soon 😊

Jan 🌷🌷🐾🐾