A key challenge in studying surface processes is accurately capturing their slow rates, which typically span geologic time scales and are too slow to measure directly using conventional methods. Recent advances in computational capabilities have enabled numerical simulations of these complex physical processes. However, the accuracy of such simulations depends on high-quality input data, including time series of environmental factors (e.g., temperature, moisture) and physical properties (e.g., porosity, thermal conductivity) of rocks. Acquiring these datasets in extreme environments remains challenging due to inaccessibility and equipment susceptibility.
This presentation highlights the use of natural laboratories in extreme settings to measure environmental parameters and improve our understanding of surface processes through numerical modeling. We present examples from steep, high-altitude rock walls in the French Alps, where hydrological and thermal processes in fractures are studied to assess the impact of climate change on rockfall hazards. Additionally, we examine climatic controls and drivers of rock weathering in hyperarid, cold environments in Antarctica. These studies demonstrate the integration of advanced field measurements and numerical simulations to enhance our understanding of rock weathering, instability, and their role in landscape evolution.