with all the money spent on the space program,they could have built quite a bio-dome city and i doubt they would have a problem getting qualified tech's to live and work there for the greater good of mankind..
2006-08-15 06:30:09 · 6 answers · asked by thedaysailor 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
they need to go no deeper than say-40ft.-,then there would be plenty of sunlite and minimule pressure on the bio-dome that could be countered by internal pressure.at that shallow depth,they should be able to tera-farm quite easily..
2006-08-15 07:42:09 · update #1
they need to go no deeper than say-40ft.-,then there would be plenty of sunlite and minimule pressure on the bio-dome that could be countered by internal pressure.at that shallow depth,they should be able to tera-farm quite easily..
2006-08-15 07:46:16 · update #2
First of all, it's difficult to reach the bottom of the ocean. With all that water on top of the ocean floor, the pressure there would make it very difficult to mix a safe breathing gas that would not be toxic (high pressure oxygen is toxic). High pressures squeeze the molecules of a gas closer together and this causes the gas to become "thicker." So they would have to dilute the oxygen to safe level in order to be breathable.
Second, the only material that could withstand that amount of pressure is steel. This would occlude sunlight and kill all vegetation and everything would die. For that matter, how would you sustatain the atmospheric composition? Where would you get fresh oxygen from? How would you scrub CO2 out without causing more toxic pollutants?
As you can see, it significantly easier to go into space than to go to the ocean floor.
2006-08-15 06:56:16 · answer #1 · answered by hyperhealer3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of issues with Terra farming the ocean's floor. First as already mentioned is the depth to which one could go to build a dome. Water pressure being the limiting factor. Lighting would not have to be natural but would be a required factor in making a biodome feasible. One would have to create sufficient energy to power lights if the dome was at any great depth. Which leads to energy vs. pollution etc. Plus to farm the ocean floors one would have to have sufficient "dry" soils to cultivate. This would pretty much require bringing topsoil down to the ocean floor... kind of defeats the purpose. (The ocean sediments would be rich in some nutrients, poor in others. There would be no micro-organisms in the soil... any such would have to come from soil on dry land.) Then to cultivate on a large scale one would have to power equipment that would once again lead to pollution issues. Transporting the foods produced would also be an issue. The bio-domes size would have to be massive just to sustain life for a small group of scientists.
Unless the surface of the earth was void of life it would be much better to terrace hills, mountains etc. and skip using bio-domes all together.
I do believe the scientists have built and studied life inside a bio-dome for the purpose of venturing into space. Bio-domes could greatly extend mans capabilities in extended manned space flights. In that requard, specialized bio-domes so to speak could be developed in a submarine like environment to allow man to stay underwater for longer periods of time. Due to the limited depths that man can reach at this point however, it is unlikely that it would have any real added value for ocean exploration... especially with the tremendous cost involved in developing and operating such an environment.
2006-08-15 17:21:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bottom of the ocean at depths of 40 feet is already being used by organisms and is a thriving and productive environment without our interference. What we need to do is limit trawler fishing that destroys the ocean floor, not find new ways to mess it up. I know you meant well with your question, but I think it is a terrible idea.
2006-08-17 18:29:04 · answer #3 · answered by justhavingfun 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it costs a lot of money and the politishions would rather line there pockets.
2006-08-15 13:36:54 · answer #4 · answered by Sherry M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's no sunlight at the bottom of most oceans...
2006-08-15 13:45:39 · answer #5 · answered by matt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well they kinda have one, its called AUTEC at teh bottom of the ocean near one of teh carribean islands, but its not for all mankind, just for underwater testing but its big
2006-08-15 13:36:22 · answer #6 · answered by PyroKidd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋