Reconstruction of Past Antarctic Temperature Using Present Seasonal ?18O–Inversion Layer Temperature: Unified Slope Equations and Applications

Abstract Reconstructing the history of polar temperature from ice core water isotope ( ? 18 O) calibration has remained a challenge in paleoclimate research, because our incomplete understanding various temperature– O relationships. This paper resolves this classical problem new framework called unified slope equations (USE), which illustrates general relations among spatial and temporal O–surface slopes. The USE is applied to Antarctica change during last deglaciation model simulations observations. It shown that comparable Antarctica-mean with deglacial reconstruction caused, accidentally, by compensation responses between O–inversion layer relation inversion itself. Furthermore, light USE, we propose present seasonal an optimal paleothermometer more accurate robust than slope. suggests possibility reconstructing past Antarctic changes using future instrumental Significance Statement develops (USE) provide, for first time, isotope–temperature application shows temperature.