/sci/ - Science & Math

Yesterday

During historical man in the sea missions such as those aboard the La Chalupa, in situ resource utilization came in simpler forms; Fish at that depth would swarm the habitat's moon pool as it was illuminated from within and a few overly eager specimens would jump through the water/air interface and wind up flopping around on the floor of the wet room. A crewman nearby would pick it up, pop it in the microwave for a three second kill, gut it, clean it and serve it for dinner. Experiments in circulating seawater through a shallow pan with a large surface area also proved that the gas exchange between the water and the habitat atmosphere was swift enough, with circulation, to meet the respiratory needs of one crew member at a resting heartrate.

Similar experiments involving a thin microporous silicone membrane were carried out in the Soviet Union, employing a positive pressure 'inflatable' subsea habitat named Selena-1. The microporous membrane permitted passive admission of oxygen from the surrounding seawater and the removal of CO2, striking a balance that produced without any electricity or traditional life support equipment an internal atmosphere breathable by a single occupant indefinitely, provided that occupant took care to prevent the growth of a biofilm on the membrane exterior.

>>4568019
>Where are the ideal waters in your opinion, to settle down into and live permanently? You know, like good water temps year round, quality food and good weather above (if that is necessary I dunno) for wave power generation.

Continental shelf, equatorial waters, on the very edge of the gulf stream. Below 200 feet, weather above doesn't influence you no matter how violent, so that's not a factor.

>What materials would be used at a shallow depth?

At a shallow depth? Even plastic will do. If it's ambient pressure, it doesn't need to resist any pressure differential because there is none. The only stresses are upward forces due to buoyancy. You can even make your habitat inflatable. Pic related.

>>4558003
>Anything, MS?

I answered you here: >>4557945

SubLimnos sounds like what you want. It cost $10,000 to make in the 1970s. Factor in inflation for a more up to date figure.

If you don't need to be up out of the water entirely, a transparent bubble like this one would be much much cheaper: (pic related) http://www.subaqua.alldaydrive.com/index.php

>>4054006

There isn't much. Ambient habitats are dead simple. Although in a situation where you had a group trying to build a modern technological civilization on an island using those tools, the only real utility of ambient habitats would be for scientific research and to facilitate open ocean fish farming and other aquaculture projects. Aside from those, there's just not much use for them, hence why only four are left.

However that is absolutely one of the better ways they could multiply food production, by allowing people to live onsite and monitor/harvest/maintain the farms daily instead of monthly, and the lab space could be rented out to marine biologists. It would also bring in tourism revenue, as there's currently renewed interest in underwater resort/hotel/restaurant destinations.

They would likely be inflatable like this one but large enough to stand up in, with surface supplied air lines from shore and power for lights, heat and dehumidification. They could also be cheaply built from sheet metal but that would make it more expensive and difficult to provide a good view, as you'd need to size, cut and mount plexiglass windows. The inflatable hab approach is the cheapest as it basically amounts to an aqua tent.

Here's a small underwater 'clubhouse' built by a family of diving enthusiasts. Notice it's an inflatable design, using transparent sheet plastic (vectran I believe) under a nylon net, secured on all sides to an octagonal steel frame. It's anchored at all 8 points to the sea floor with weights and the air inside is refreshed by scuba tank. The consumer version has no net (it's one contiguous 'bubble', made of strong enough material to withstand the upward force by itself) and the air is refreshed by a supplied electric air compressor which releases fresh air into the clubhouse via "O2 bubblers". Stagnant air is, as with all moon pools, forced out the bottom.

This is how we should be hangin' with dolphins. Bubble forts. You could take a breath and then return to shenanigans without scuba gear. Provided you don't stray too far from the fort it would be altogether unnecessary.