Dendrochronology is the science of studying tree growth rings to determine past environmental conditions. Trees record information about forest fires, floods, droughts, meteorite strikes, volcanic eruptions, and ice ages in their growth rings. By examining a tree's core sample or cut-down tree, scientists can see the tree's life and evidence of climate changes, fires, and variations in sunlight intensity over time. Trees need sunlight, water, minerals, and the right temperature conditions to grow and produce growth rings through photosynthesis, cell meiosis, cell mitosis, and water-based cell division and multiplication processes.