Engineering students support Biosphere 2 coral reef growth
Team 26022 is helping sustain Biosphere 2’s delicate ocean ecosystem by improving the growth of coral reefs.
Chris Richards/University Communications
Coral colonize on ARMS, or Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures, which attach to ARKs for restoration and long-term growth. ARKs provide the scaffolding for a thriving coral ecosystem.
JPOP Photon
Interdisciplinary Capstone Team 26022 is one of four University of Arizona engineering teams working with Biosphere 2 researchers this year. Their project bolsters the facility's coral reef system.
Since 2019, the Global Reef Monitoring Network found that 14% of the world’s corals have disappeared, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported in 2018 that reefs could decline 70-90% if global temperatures continue to rise.
Water flow is critical to coral health, influencing oxygen levels, nutrient delivery and waste removal. Weak or uneven circulation can limit coral growth. To address this, the team analyzed how different coral reef ARKs – structures designed to support the growth and restoration of coral fragments – affect circulation patterns.
“Our goal is to understand how the structure of the ARK impacts water movement around the coral,” said Yousef Alabiad, mechanical engineering student and team lead. “If we can optimize that flow, it can create a healthier environment for coral growth.”
Using computational fluid dynamics modeling and testing, the team evaluated water velocity, turbulence and circulation inside the structures.
After extensive trial and error, the team developed three potential structures built with PVC plates arranged horizontally and bolted down to serve as an ocean bed for coral.
Watch interdisciplinary capstone teams showcase their work at the Craig M. Berge Design Day
on May 4.