Earth Science FAQs - Climate

How can we date corals?

Offshore Sumatra, coral growth patterns allow scientists to reconstruct ancient earthquakes cycles. To get an accurate seismic history, precise dating of the coral bands (analogous to tree rings) is necessary. To this end, scientists sample several coral bands, and analyse their composition in different radioactive elements. These elements are like natural clocks that give insights on the date of formation of living beings.