The Daily Planet #7: The Technosphere

It's come to my notice that we are living in a new age, the human age, the Anthropocene. I am sure it strokes our ego to be the measure of all things, but we wouldn't be in the position without all the technologies we have brought into the world.

There wouldn't be 7 billion of us without the marvels of medicine and those 7 billion wouldn't be spewing carbon into the atmosphere if we didn't have oil rigs and tankers.

In short, the Anthropocene is a Technocene. Or put another way, the Technosphere is a layer on the Earth's biogeochemical systems. A very extractive layer as of now, but maybe one day it will contribute to the flourishing of all beings.

One can hope.

The term "Technosphere" was coined by Peter Haff in an article called "Technology as a Geological Phenomenon." Haff says:

The technosphere, the interlinked set of communication, transportation, bureaucratic and other systems that act to metabolize fossil fuels and other energy resources, is considered to be an emerging global paradigm, with similarities to the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. The technosphere is of global extent, exhibits large-scale appropriation of mass and energy resources, shows a tendency to co-opt for its own use information produced by the environment, and is autonomous. Unlike the older paradigms, the technosphere has not yet evolved the ability to recycle its own waste stream.

The last line is the kicker. Haff's article is a bit too academic for the Daily Planet, so here's a video of him introducing the idea instead.

Triggers: Introducing the Technosphere | Peter K. Haff

100 Years of Now. The Opening2015, Oct 2 Peter K. Haff (Geologist, Duke University, Durham)