CoralCache: A virtual coral core repository for transparent and reproducible annual growth rate analyses
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Abstract
As science fields enter the Big Data revolution, open-access repositories are essential for addressing larger-scale questions than are possible for single researchers by making data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). Furthermore, transparent data and code are increasingly important for reproducible research, especially for data types that inherently require subjective human interpretations. These ideas are applicable to coral sclerochronology, as the field has long been characterized by individual researchers collecting and analyzing coral skeletal cores from their study sites without substantial data sharing or archiving of the core images to meet FAIR principles. Here, we present CoralCache, a virtual coral core repository that not only archives image datasets (i.e., digitized X-rays and computed tomography scans), but also observer interpretations of the density banding patterns. CoralCache is linked to a graphical user interface, CoralCT, which together offer a way forward for coral growth rate analysis that is reproducible and collaborative. The data organization systems presented here could also be readily applied to related archives such as tree rings or bivalve shells.
Suggested Citation
DeCarlo, T.M., Jasnos, O., Strange, A., Andersson, A., Bautista VII, A.T., Bloomer, S., Bolden, I.W., Bosman, M., Brachert, T., Braz, G.B., Cardoso, G.O., Carricart-Ganivet, J.P., Carilli, J.E., Castillo, K.D., Cavole, L., Chan, S., Chen, X., Chomitz, B., Correge, T., Courtney, T.A., Diegan, M., D'Olivio, J.P., Dunbar, R., Enochs, I.C., Falsarella, L., Felis, T., Gutierrez-Estrada, G., Hedger, B., Hu, S., Jameson, S., Jupiter, S.D., Kench, P., Kersting, D., Lin, K., Lindblad-Toh, K., Liu, Y., Lorigados, C.A., Manzello, D.P., McCulloch, M.T., Mies, M., Moura, R.L., Oberle, F.K., Pereira, N., Prouty, N.G., Ramos, R.D., Ren, H., Ryan, E., Thompson, D.M., Toth, L.T., Vergotti, M., Webster, J.M., and Zinke, J., 2026, CoralCache: A virtual coral core repository for transparent and reproducible annual growth rate analyses: Earth System Science Data, v. 18, no. 5, p. 3341-3353, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-3341-2026.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | CoralCache: A virtual coral core repository for transparent and reproducible annual growth rate analyses |
| Series title | Earth System Science Data |
| DOI | 10.5194/essd-18-3341-2026 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Publication Date | May 19, 2026 |
| Year Published | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| Contributing office(s) | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Description | 13 p. |
| First page | 3341 |
| Last page | 3353 |