Biosphere
![]() |
The biosphere (biospheric) is a broad term that describes living organisms and their environment. It is often used as one of the four elements that describe the earth:
- Lithosphere.
- Biosphere.
- Hydrosphere.
- Atmosphere.
It has similarities with the term ecosphere which describes the global ecosystem and is the portion of the atmosphere in which it is possible to breathe naturally.
Biosphere is also often used to describe buildings that attempt to mimic the Earth's own systems by creating closed units that can be scientifically studied. These are more formally referred to biodomes which describes the typical building shape rather than the ecological system within it.
The first of such artificial systems to be built was the Biosphere 2, named as such acknowledging the Earth as Biosphere 1. It was built to investigate how Earth's ecological systems might be developed to function on other planets.
See also Biodome.
Somewhat confusingly the term biosphere is also used to describe designated open areas of land that are of significant ecological interest, where sustainable development balances conservation and people's lives (the conservation of biodiversity that includes human intervention and socio-economic activity). These are more formally called UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of which there are currently 714 areas worldwide (2022). There are some similarities to these and geoparks, although biosphere includes the total range of biotic and abiotic features whilst geoparks focus on the abiotc characteristics of a place. Bioparks, although significantly smaller in scale are more akin to the principles set out in biosperes.
Biomes is the more formal name for a community of vegetation and wildlife which has adapted to a specific climate, as such biosphere (human-made and natural) can have a number of different biomes, as can be seen with the Eden Project in the United Kingdom.
NB AR5 Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability, Glossary, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines the biosphere as: The part of the Earth system comprising all ecosystems and living organisms, in the atmosphere, on land (terrestrial biosphere), or in the oceans (marine biosphere), including derived dead organic matter, such as litter, soil organic matter, and oceanic detritus.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
This weeks guest editor, Ankita Dwivedi of Firstplanit.
Fropm practice to research and the business of materials.
Terms, histories, theories and practices.
Types of work to existing buildings - repurposing of buildings
Alteration and everything else before demolition.
2023 HSE data on workplace injuries and ill health
And CIOB's response.
Building Safety Act and Secondary Legislation
Presidential update from CIAT's Eddie Weir PCIAT.
Starting pistol Statement for an election campaign?
Rates freeze, NI cuts, full expensing; early election?
Positive pressure or positive input ventilation
Could this be a remedy for condensation, damp or mould?
Unlocking a Healthier Tomorrow
Report on Social housing retrofit in Scotland 2023
Call for ministerial group and National Retrofit Delivery Plan.
The Great Transformation 1860–1920. Book review.
2023 Autumn Statement in brief with reactions
Including the devolved governments, CIOB, ECA, APM and IHBC.
Irish Life Sciences HQ, an exemplar of adaptive reuse
AT awards small to medium size project category winner.
Formal and informal adaptive re-use or new use of buildings.
Broken Record. Emissions Gap Report 2023
Temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions (again).
Environment Agency cuts waste red tape
No longer enforcing certain waste transfer documentation.
APM Project Management Awards 2023
Winners reactions during the event at the Park Plaza Hotel.
BSRIA Living Laboratory Innovation Challenge
An exciting opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate.
Discussing issues related to inside and outside air quality
Report from the BSRIA Briefing 2023, Cleaner Air, Better Tomorrow.