A 2203-year coral growth rate-record from the northern South China Sea (Mid- to Late Holocene)

This dataset contains a 2203-year, discontinuous record of annual coral growth rates reconstructed from 113 fossil Porites lutea colonies collected from eastern Hainan Island in the northern South China Sea. All coral samples were dated using high-precision U-series methods, yielding an age range of 5829–2643 (± 2σ) year BP (relative to 1950 CE). Annual linear extension rates were obtained from X-radiographic measurements of coral slabs and compiled into a composite chronology. The dataset provides insights into Mid- to Late Holocene variations in coral growth and environmental conditions, including changes possibly related to sea surface temperature variability and ENSO activity.