Visiting Biosphere 2 for Potential Research Collaborations
The Land-Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions group (LAOI), led by HAS Professor Xubin Zeng, took a field trip on December 8, 2025 to the Biosphere 2 (B2) facility just over 30 miles north of campus for potential research collaborations. B2 research and administrative staff provided an engaging and inspiring tour for the group.
B2 staff and personnel leading the tour included Professor Joaquin Ruiz (B2 Director and former UA College of Science Dean), John Adams (Deputy Director), Dr. Joost van Haren (Director of Rain Forest Research), Aaron Bugaj (Research Technologist III in charge of the Landscape Evolution Observatory), and finally Jason Deleeuw (Terrestrial Biome Manager). Truly the opportunity of a lifetime!
The tour started with a deep dive into the history of the facility (see photo above), which has changed hands--and purposes--a few times. Almost 40 years after the construction of the Biosphere 2, it stands as one of the most unique research laboratories in the world.
The group then toured the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) (photo below ). At its very beginning, this area consisted of 3 separate manufactured hillslopes full of crushed volcanic rock (basalt), but now the hillslopes are green and alive for the study of air, water, soil, plant, and microbial interactions. HAS Professor and Department Head Peter Troch was the chief scientist for LEO, and several HAS faculty members have published LEO-related modeling and data papers.
The next area to be explored was the Tropical Rain Forest (photo below) where you can feel the humidity of the Amazon, walk among the coffee and cacao trees, and study the effects of a changing climate on rain forest biomes. Several HAS faculty members (including the late HAS Professor Jim Shuttleworth) have published papers using observations here, including the suggestion that the rainforest biome is much more resilient to the effects of climate change (hotter, drier climate) than previously thought, with the confirmation from more recent studies.
The group walked from the rainforest to the “ocean,” which even had waves (Photo 4), where researchers attempt to better understand and develop solutions for the coral reef crisis.
Currently, they are trying to answer a number of questions including how 'Coral Arks' can be applied to encourage reef restoration.
Finally, the group visited the desert biome (photo below). It's not quite the desert we know and love here in Tucson, but more of a savannah-type desert. The research direction for this part of the facility is still in development, and it is exciting to think about the questions that will be answered here.
The Biosphere 2 presents a unique opportunity to study the Earth system in a way that can only be done in this facility, and much of Biosphere 2's data is publicly available. This raises the question: if you could control the Earth system, what would you do?