Sclerochronology

Sclerochronology is the study of ring-like layers that form inside certain hard structures of organisms, like shells, corals, or bones. These layers are deposited over time, much like tree rings, and can reveal information about the organism’s age, environmental conditions, and ecological history. By analyzing these growth layers, scientists can reconstruct past climates, ocean conditions, and changes in ecosystems over centuries or even millennia. Sclerochronology is a valuable tool for understanding historical environmental shifts and the biological responses of marine and terrestrial life to changing climates.