Why not try an educational visit to a rainforest or the ocean? It sounds crazy — Arizona is landlocked and known for its desert climate. We’re in the wrong state and the wrong region. But not too far outside of Tucson, Ariz. you can experience a wide range of environments and learn about important research being done to better our understanding of our planet, its climate and its various biomes.

The Biosphere 2 kitchen used by the crew that lived in the closed ecological system.

Biosphere 2 is probably best known for its original purpose: a closed ecological system experiment that featured human crews during two missions in the 1990s (hopefully your first thought about Biosphere 2 is not the disastrous 1996 Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin movie “Bio-Dome,” although, trust me, someone will inevitably mention it when you bring up your trip).

The highly publicized Missions 1 and 2 conducted at Biosphere 2—the first from 1991 to 1993 and the second ending prematurely after six months in 1994—are fascinating in their own right. There are many storieswritten about the discoveries, controversies, successes and failures of the experiment, and a fewbooks as well, one of which is authored by a member from the first crew. Indeed, one of the highlights of visiting Biosphere 2 today is hearing about how the crews survived and coped during their stays in a sealed environment (the experience became just as much a psychological experiment as a scientific one).

But a trip to the facility is about more than just learning some interesting history about a unique science experiment. You’ll get to tour the various biomes and learn about modern (and arguably more meaningful) experiments being conducted today by the University of Arizona.

Why Biosphere 2?

In January 2010, I came across a blog about Biosphere 2. Like many people, I assume, I vaguely remember the 1990s experiment but had not thought much, if at all, about the facility or the work done there since. The blog caught my attention mostly because of the fascinating pictures and narrative that described Biosphere 2 as some failed utopian experiment that now sits in a decrepit state slowly being swallowed by the unrelenting advance of suburbia.

Some comments on the blog took issue with the portrayal of the facility, noting that the University of Arizona leases the property and conducts research and even tours there. It just so happened I was set to visit Arizona the very next month anyway (Scottsdale, specifically, and it’s a bit of a haul from there to the Biosphere 2 facility in Oracle, Ariz.), so I thought it’d be interesting to take the journey and see for myself.

I’m happy to report that rumors of Biosphere 2’s demise were greatly exaggerated.

At Biosphere 2

Outside, Biosphere 2 looks like an enormous greenhouse, and in fact a sign there tells us it is one of the largest greenhouses in the world. Once you’re inside and take the tour (tours are offered daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and depart every 30-45 minutes), you really get a sense of what an engineering marvel the facility is.

Outside Biosphere 2. The pyramid structure is only the rainforest biome. The entire facility spans 3.14 acres.

Beneath the visible structure, miles of pipes, wiring, tanks, etc. make up the “technosphere,” which was initially designed to recreate the earth’s recycling functions.

If you’re into engineering, though, you’ll want to pay close attention when the tour wraps up at the “South Lung,” which was designed to make sure Biosphere 2 did not “explode or implode due to pressure forces” by allowing air to be displaced to and from the facility, B2’s website says. The acoustics in the lung are, well…as the short video below shows, I couldn’t resist making a loud clicking noise to hear it travel around the room.

The Biomes

The savannah is the first biome you see on the tour. You get a nice view of the ocean (yes, Biosphere 2 has a 750,000 gallon ocean, and yes, there are fish in there. More on that later) and from here it was clear to me that the facility was anything but what I had read in that January 2010 blog. The photos accompanying that blog appeared to show dead plants and neglect. I saw this:

Next my tour visited the desert. It was a bit strange to be in a desert, looking out the window at another desert, but we were informed the plant life in B2’s desert differs from what is found outside.

If it was strange being in a desert within a desert, you can imagine what it was like to step into the rainforest biome. On a trip to Arizona, you probably don’t expect to snap this picture:

Interestingly, we were told the plant within the orange tape in the above picture was sectioned off because it is endangered in the wild now.

The ocean

I saved the ocean for last because I found it truly fascinating. It is made up of a fore reef, a barrier reef and a back reef, and it is large enough that organisms within rely on the internal food chain and thus do not have to be fed by humans. Within the ocean are around 35 species of hard corals, 25 species of fish, 30 species of algae and over 100 invertebrate species. The tour goes through an underwater viewing area, and I was able to snap a not-so-great picture of one of the above-mentioned fish:

A tropical paradise? Nope, it’s the Biosphere 2 ocean seen from the savannah biome.

The ocean as seen from the underwater viewing area.

This little guy was kind enough to swim close to the glass for a picture.

The science

As mentioned, the University of Arizona, which leases the facility, conducts research and experiments that further our knowledge of natural and manmade impacts on various environments. The work involves experiments such as altering temperatures to see how that affects plants and replicating conditions that are killing plants off in the wild to better understand the phenomenon.

A sign outside the rainforest explains it is subjected to changes in atmospheric CO2 content, air temperature and moisture to observe plants’ responses, which can then be compared with predictions by researchers working in rainforests around the world. What have the studies shown? “They have shown that the capacity of the rainforests to fix more CO2, and slow the rate of increase in atmospheric CO2, will probably grind to a halt mid-21st century.”

While all of this may sound a bit idealistic, there have been tangible results of the research done at Biosphere 2. For example, scientists noticed a difference in Piñon pine tree deaths during a drought in 2000 compared to deaths during a drought in the 1950s. Twenty mature Piñon pines were transported to Biosphere 2 to study how only temperature would impact tree mortality during drought conditions. The results, released in 2009, showed that, in similar drought conditions, trees died 28% faster in conditions where the climate was just 7 degrees warmer.

The experience

Biosphere 2 appeals to a range of interests. Those who are into hearing a good story about a point in history will enjoy the background information on the facility and the tour through the kitchen and living quarters. Admirers of engineering and architecture will marvel at the structure itself. Science educators and those with an interest in learning about our planet and its climate will find value in discussions about experiments being carried out there today.

The tour was fun and I did not feel rushed at all. Our guide was patient, informative and answered all questions. It involved a lot of walking, which I enjoyed, but that may be something to keep in mind for those who have difficulties with stairs or who are traveling with very young children.

If you’re driving to Oracle, feel free to admire the desert landscape.

Of course, there are many high-profile sites to visit in Arizona if you are there for the scenery, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a moment to enjoy a view like this if you happen to be driving to Biosphere 2:

And one more thing, if you’re like me and wondering where Biosphere 1 might be, you’re standing in it. Biosphere 2 was named as a nod to our own closed ecological system, planet Earth.

Planning a trip to Arizona, the Tucson are and Biosphere 2? Contact your local travel agent and ask for a GOGO Vacations package!