Anthropization and current tasks of earth sciences

Abstract

This article considers the development of anthropization on the Earth as a result of the activity of technically equipped man, aimed at assimilating natural resources and creating a social and economic infrastructure. The observed rapid growth of antagonism between anthropization and society shows the necessity to elaborate a new strategy of developing modern civilization, based on preserving the balance between human economic activity and environmental protection. Individual problems arising in the course of anthropization are analyzed by the author. As an example, territorial seismic and engineering geological zoning, designed to “inscribe” technospheric objects into the natural environment, is considered. Issues of surface and underground water protection, natural risk assessment in developing territories, and problems of industrial and household waste recycling are discussed. The examples given testify to the necessity to develop on a scientific basis an anthropogenic-activity code that would rest on the principle of the coevolution of the technosphere and the natural environment.