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| BIOSPHERE 2: RESEARCH PAST AND PRESENT
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 Buy online with a credit card in the Elsevier Science & Technology Bookstore:  http://books.elsevier.com/elsevier/?isbn=0080432085
Edited by
B.D.V. Marino, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Harvard University, Oxford St, Cambridge, Mass 02138, USA
H.T. Odum, 2106 NW 9th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32603, USA
Description
Biosphere 2, the fascinating 1.25-ha and up to 190 000 m3 atmosphere glass-enclosed mesocosm in the Arizona desert, explores
the bounds and frontiers of the new field of ecological engineering.
This project set out to construct ecosystems or biomes, not monocultures,
in a heavily subsidized environment, save for the sun, 50% of which did penetrate the glass, and the soil that was trucked in. Pumps
were needed for the hydrologic cycle, blowers for atmospheric movement, and even a 165 000 m3 'lung' to relieve the pressure
that builds up in the glass enclosed system. More than 10 MW of electrical power generating capacity stands nearby. Ecosystems did flourish
in the various biomes, never turning out exactly as they had been planned, but always giving information that provides insight on their
true analogs in nature. CO2 concentrations soared and O2 concentrations dipped during those first years, showing
us the importance of plants, microbes, soil carbon, and even building concrete on the system's biogeochemistry.
This publication represents
the most comprehensive assemblage of findings from Biosphere 2, findings that were subjected to a strong peer-review process. The papers
range from calibrated models that describe the system metabolism, hydrologic balance, and heat and humidity, to papers that describe
rainforest, mangrove, ocean, and agronomic system development in this CO2 -rich environment.
But the real point that resonates
is the shear magnitude of what it costs in money, material, and energy to create enclosed healthy ecosystems, not a trivial point if
we are some day interested in habitation in space. Biosphere 2 operational costs and annualized construction costs, in the order of $10
million per year, allows us to estimate the real cost of recreating planet Earth ecosystems. The ecological message is clear —
we should appreciate and try to understand the workings of the ecosystems and the Biosphere that we have. Biosphere 2 helps us do that
in many ways.
Audience
For government bodies, institutions and academics.
Contents
Preface. (W.J. Mitsch).
Editorial.
Biosphere 2: introduction and research progress (B.D.V. Marino, H.T. Odum).
Overview and
Design.
Biospherics and Biosphere 2, mission one (1991-1993) (J. Allen, M. Nelson). Biosphere 2 engineering design (W.F. Dempster).
Construction and engineering of a created environment: overview of the Biosphere 2 closed system (B. Zabel et al.).
Research
Articles.
Tropical rainforest biome of Biosphere 2: structure, composition and results of the first 2 years of operation (L. Leigh et al.). Characteristics of soils in the tropical rainforest biome of Biosphere 2 after 3 years (H.J. Scott). Simulations of
community metabolism and atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations in Biosphere 2 (V.C. Engel, H.T. Odum). Litterfall and
decomposition rates in Biosphere 2 terrestrial biomes (short communication) (M. Nelson). The Biosphere 2 coral reef biome (M.J. Atkinson et al.). Mangrove ecosystem development in Biosphere 2 (short communication) (M. Finn et al.). Soils in the agricultural
area of Biosphere 2 (1991-1993) (S.E. Silverstone et al.). Bioregenerative recycling of wastewater in Biosphere 2 using a constructed
wetland: two year results (short communication) (M. Nelson et al.). The agricultural biome of Biosphere 2: structure, composition
and function (B.D.V. Marino et al.). The diel carbon cycle of the Biosphere 2 ocean (C. Sweeney). High quality, continuous measurements
of CO2 in Biosphere 2 to access whole mesocosm carbon cycling (Y. Rosenthal et al.). Ecosystem-level evapotranspiration
and water-use efficiency in the desert biome of Biosphere 2 (F.N. Tubiello et al.). Growing wheat in Biosphere 2 under elevated
CO2: observations and modeling (F.N. Tubiello et al.). Dynamics of the global water cycle of Biosphere 2 (F.N. Tubiello et al.). Simulation of the water cycle in Biosphere 2 (D. Kang). The Biosphere 2 canopy access system (short communication)
(M. Grushka et al.). Multispectral imaging of vegetation at Biosphere 2 (short communication) (B.D.V. Marino et al.).
Simulation of heat and humidity budgets of Biosphere 2 without its air conditioning. (A. Nebot et al.).
| Bibliographic details |
Hardbound, 330 pages, publication date: JUN-1999
ISBN-13: 978-0-08-043208-3
ISBN-10: 0-08-043208-5
Imprint: ELSEVIER
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| Price and Ordering |
Price:
USD 104.95
EUR 105
GBP 69.95
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Last update: 26 Sep 2008
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