Lesson 10 Biosphere 2, how did the Biosphere 2 experiment work?

In the mid-to-late 80s of the last century, an American billionaire named Edbas decided to make a bold attempt and exploration of the theory of space colonization that human beings will settle in outer space or even alien planets in the future.

Survive for two years in the almost closed "Biosphere 2" with a similar environment as the Earth.

1: Because it's done in the American desert!

2: The purpose is to study whether human beings can survive on alien planets for a long time!

3: Conducted in a closed environment!

4: Failed! In the last few years, the oxygen content was reduced from 22% to 12%.

It's better to turn it into a tourist. $12 can see $20 to walk inside!

Why did this experiment fail? Scientists have concluded that in addition to the causes of more carbon dioxide, less oxygen, and imbalance of the water cycle, the imbalance of the relationship between biological species is also an important reason.

It turned out that although the designers simulated a variety of ecosystems in Biosphere II, the organisms introduced were mainly producers, and the types and quantities of animals, fungi and bacteria were smaller. Pollinating insects die, and some plants only bloom but do not bear fruit. Due to the reduction of animal species and appropriate amounts, plants are rarely eaten by animals, coupled with the lack of decomposition of bacteria and fungi, resulting in a large accumulation of litter and leaves, and the material circulation cannot be carried out normally.

I'm afraid there is also the reason for the wrong proportion, in the real biosphere, the average person corresponds to the atmosphere, water, plants, etc. is so vast, but what about number two? The ratio of environmental resources to people is seriously small, just that bit of atmosphere, water, plants, etc., even one person is seriously not enough, let alone a few people.

More carbon dioxide and less oxygen are the consequence rather than the cause, and the reason for the high amount of carbon dioxide and the lack of oxygen is that there are too few plants to convert and release oxygen from the amount of carbon dioxide produced by people and plants themselves. Oxygen is consumed at a higher rate than it is produced, whereas carbon dioxide is produced at a higher rate than consumed.

1.Humans already live in the biosphere, so the experimental site is "Biosphere 2".

2.Try to create and sustain an ecosystem that is almost completely detached from the natural world with current technology.

3.The various ecosystems of nature, as well as some organisms and scientists, are placed in a completely sealed environment with almost no energy exchange with the outside world, and try to maintain the internal ecological cycle.

4.Failed. The direct cause is that there are a lot of gases that cannot be decomposed and absorbed, mainly CO.

The fundamental reason is that human beings are currently unable to live in isolation from the natural world and create ecosystems that are separated from nature.

It is called Biosphere 2 because it is used to study secondary environments suitable for human existence. Biosphere 2 is divided into many song plates, including the warm, hot, cold and other zones on the earth, oceans, deserts, cultivated land and other land types, the planting of organisms is also varied, the reasonable location is distributed in Biosphere 2, the roof is solar function, after the completion of the series of preparations, a group of scientists to live in the 'residential residence' built in it. However, the experiment failed, and the scientists who stayed in the room eventually had to withdraw due to the lack of oxygen supply, and now Biosphere 2 is open to the public and is called a 'scenic spot'.

1.In order to be the same as the Earth's biosphere. There is a forest in it.

Desert. Farmland. Oceans and streams.

Poultry. House 2Can it be an environment for people to live in3

Living in it while researching. 3.Oxygen drops.

The total amount of oxygen decreases due to the oxidation of organic matter in the soil, and the carbon dioxide produced is absorbed by the concrete used to build the building, and does not enter the circulation.

The photosynthetic capacity of the biosphere is insufficient, and the level of carbon dioxide in closed containers rises, more than 10 times higher than normal levels on Earth.

A little more than a year later, the ecological situation of Biosphere 2 took a sharp turn for the worse, with oxygen (O2) levels falling rapidly from 21 to 14, while carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels skyrocketed, the atmosphere and seawater became acidic, many species died, and morning glories, which absorb carbon dioxide, grew wildly. Most vertebrates die, and all pollinators die, resulting in the death of all plants that reproduce by pollen. Due to uncontrolled rainfall, man-made deserts have been turned into jungles and meadows.

The deterioration of the air inside Biosphere 2 directly endangered the health of the inhabitants, and scientists were forced to withdraw from the "Garden of Eden" ahead of schedule. More carbon dioxide and less oxygen (because there are relatively few plants to convert and release oxygen from as much carbon dioxide produced by people and plants themselves.) Oxygen is consumed at a rate higher than it is produced, while carbon dioxide is produced at a higher rate than consumed), imbalance of the water cycle, imbalance of biological species relationships, etc.

The Biosphere 2 experiment ended in failure.