Growth Rings

Growth rings are visible circles found in the cross-section of trees, representing a year's worth of growth. Each ring forms as the tree adds new layers of cells during the growing season: faster during spring (lighter, wider rings) and slower in summer (darker, narrower rings). By examining these rings, scientists can determine the age of a tree and learn about past environmental conditions, such as climate variations or droughts, during different years. Growth rings are valuable for understanding ecological history and the health of forests over time.