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During the initial operation of Biosphere 2, there have been important variations in atmospheric composition, particularly a decline in oxygen concentration. Testing has confirmed a low leakage rate, supporting the theory that the atmospheric dynamics are attributable to internal processes. There are many aspects of Biosphere 2 under investigation which will serve to advance the understanding of ecosystem functioning and processes.

Biosphere 2 is a large closed ecological system occupied by eight human inhabitants in complete material isolation. It has been in operation continuously for 9 months of the initial 2 year run which commenced on Sept 26, 1991. The major areas of observation summarized in this paper are the dynamics of atmospheric composition, food production, health, quantification of leakage, plant growth, and species survival.

Biosphere 2 is a large closed ecological system nearing completion in Arizona. Various subsystems are critical to the operation and the approach to redundancy and back-up systems for synergistic advantages is described in several instances.

Biosphere 2 is a 3.15 acre materially-closed, manned ecological system (bioregnerative life support system) under construction in Arizona. Its major features and current construction status are discussed.

This paper reports engineering updates on the temperature and humidity control, water cycling, energy, ocean and marsh ecosystems, redundancies in energy systems, variable volume chambers, and computer monitoring and control systems for the Biosphere II project under construction at present and scheduled for completion in September, 1990 (see SAE Technical Paper Series 881096, “Biosphere II: Design of a Closed Manned Terrestrial Ecosystem”, 1988). Biosphere II is a 3.15 acre materially closed ecological system, 7 million cubic feet in volume, and will include approximately 3,800 species of macroscopic plants and animals in seven biomes: tropical rainforest, savannah, marsh, marine, desert, intensive agriculture, and human habitat. The project is being conducted by Space Biospheres Venture a private for-profit firm.

Space Biospheres Ventures, a private for-profit firm, has undertaken a major research and development project in the study of biospheres with the objective of creating and producing biospheres. Biosphere II - under construction at present and scheduled for completion in January, 1990 - will be essentially isolated from the existing biosphere by a closed structure, composed of components derived from the existing biosphere. Like the biosphere of the Earth, Biosphere II will be a stable, complex, evolving, essentially materially closed, life closed, energetically open, informationally open system containing five kingdoms of life, at least five ecosystems, plus humankind, culture and technics. Biosphere II will cover approximately 2.25 acres in floor area, and contain 5 million cubic feet in volume, with seven major biomes: tropical rainforest, tropical savannah, marsh, marine, desert, intensive agri-culture, and human habitat.