風化作用は、岩石や鉱物、人工構造物が時間とともに物理的・化学的・生物的に変質する現象であり、鉱物・岩石の変質、土壌生成、炭素循環、地形変化、生態系の維持、さらにはインフラや文化財の劣化にも深く関与しています。本セッションでは、風化の多様なプロセスとスケールを取り上げ、最新の研究成果や観測技術、モデリング、応用的課題について学際的に議論します。たとえば、石材やガラス、鉱物などの風化は、石造建築物や壁画などの劣化問題を理解し、保存修復方法の戦略を立てることに役立ちます。また、気候変動が進行する中で、気温や降水量、極端気象の変化が風化作用に及ぼす影響、地球表層における持続可能性の理解の観点から注目されています。このような多岐にわたる風化現象に関して、観測や実験、非破壊試験、現地調査、シミュレーションなど多様な観点から風化機構の理解につながる話題提供を企画するとともに一般からの講演も募集し、環境変化との関連や社会的影響などの応用面に関しても多角的に議論します。

Weathering is the process by which rocks, minerals, and man-made structures undergo physical, chemical, and biological changes over time. This process profoundly influences mineral and rock alteration, soil formation, the carbon cycle, topographical changes, the ecosystem maintenance, and the deterioration of infrastructure and cultural assets. This session will explore the various weathering processes and scales through interdisciplinary discussions of the latest research findings, observational techniques, modelling and practical challenges. Understanding the weathering processes of minerals and rocks is essential for understanding deterioration issues in stone structures and murals, as well as for developing conservation and restoration strategies. Furthermore, as climate change progresses, attention is being drawn to the impact of temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather shifts on weathering processes in the context of sustainability of the Earth's surface. Regarding these diverse weathering phenomena, we plan to present topics that contribute to our understanding of weathering mechanisms from various perspectives, including observation, experimentation, non-destructive testing, field surveys and simulation. We also invite presentations from the general public to facilitate multifaceted discussions on applied aspects, such as the relationship with environmental change and societal impacts.