Abstract: As the most sensitive key area of the Earth system to global climate change, research on the key processes of the cryosphere has attracted much attention. Meanwhile, the inevitable trend in the multi-scale monitoring study of key processes of the Earth system is to move from digital surveying to intelligent surveying and mapping. This article summarizes the research status quo on the key processes of the Earth system in terms of intelligent observation and processing in five aspects:glacier melting and sea level rise, polar ice cap stability and subsurface structure, Arctic and Antarctic sea ice changes and extreme climates, permafrost degradation and geological disasters, and livable urban underground spaces under the Earth system. Furthermore, it provides the outlook of the development trend of the intelligent surveying and mapping of key areas and key processes of the Earth system, i.e., to improve the intelligent comprehensive monitoring network, to establish big data centers for key areas, and to build the intelligent model and prediction system of key processes.

Key words: Earth system, cryosphere, seal evel, permafrost, underground spaces, intelligent surveying and mapping