Frontiers of Coral-Based Sclerochronological Studies in Japan

摘要: Corals deposit calcium carbonate (CaCO3 : aragonite ) skeletons with paired high- and low-density bands that reflect past sea surface conditions during their growth. In addition, the elemental isotopic compositions of a coral skeleton are affected by environmental factors deposition, such as temperature (SST), salinity (SSS), nutrients, turbidity, pH, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Therefore, physical chemical analyses can provide record paleoclimatic oceanographic changes physiological responses. Because southwestern part Japan is at northern habitable limit reef-building corals, Japanese corals have distinct biological characteristics, area’s climatic setting unique (e.g., East Asian Monsoon, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Kuroshio Current). Studying in marginal regions facilitate understanding mechanisms responses contribute to predicting future changes. This chapter will introduce use chronological indices, highlight previous studies Japan, propose directions for paleoenvironmental research using corals.