"Modular Biospheres" - A new platform for education and research
Abstract
A new type of testbed platform for education and research a modular biosphere has emerged from research which dates back to the Biosphere 2 and the effort to develop bioregenerative technologies for space life support Two examples of this type of facility are the Biosphere 2 Test Module a glass and spaceframe structure which runs on incident sunlight for plant growth and the Laboratory Biosphere a cylindrical opaque chamber which uses artificial lights for plant growth Both types of system require a variable volume lung chamber to relieve pressure differences between the modular biosphere and the outside environment Modular biosphere facilities offer unique research and public education opportunities Ecosystem behavior can be studied since all state conditions can be precisely specified and tracked over different ranges of time periods With material closure apart from small air exchange rate which can be determined biogeochemical cycles can be studied as elements transit between soil water plants and atmosphere Such studies offer a major step upward from studies conducted with phytotrons which because of their small size limit the number of organisms to a very small number Modular biospheres differ from ecological microcosms because of their material closure thus a much more thorough examination of nutrient cycling can be conducted and their larger volume Though large in comparison with phytotrons and microcosms modular biospheres are small enough that they can be reconfigured -- with elements changed --
- Publication:
-
36th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006cosp...36.1070N