About the Unified Classification of Natural and Anthropogenic Landscape Complexes

The article presents the author’s view on classification criteria and approaches to the unified classification of landscape complexes (geocomplexes): undisturbed natural, partially modified, completely transformed. Five criteria are substantiated: (1) features of the organization in connection with the location in geospheres; (2) the degree of transformation or natural–artificiality; (3) geographical position; (4) the period of development (dynamic state); (5) main features of the composition, structure and functioning of geocomplexes and their components. These criteria cover the existing diversity, take into account their essential properties and create the basis for a unified classification of the entire diversity of virgin and anthropogenic, natural and artificial geocomplexes. They form a completely diverse (multi-aspect and multi-level) system–a multidimensional classification space of the structural-functional approach for the classification of geocomplexes at local and regional levels. 6 classes of the 1st rank were revealed: natural atmospheric, artificial atmospheric, natural hydrospheric, artificial hydrospheric, natural lithospheric, artificial lithospheric. 28 classes of the 2nd rank are justified. A fragment of the classification of techno-natural, natural-technical and technical meso-landscapes (classes 3ed and 4th rank) is given. It is noted that the criteria considered are necessary, but not sufficient, for example, for the classification of artificial geocomplexes, the study and classification of which is an area of interaction with other technical, social and natural sciences with the leading role of geography.