Journal of Geophysical Research, D, Atmospheres 108(12, 2003
2003
The conventional interpretation of ice core deuterium and oxygen 18 isotope profiles based on the use of present-day observations (spatial slope) underestimates glacial-interglacial surface temperature changes in Central Greenland by up to a factor of two. This likely results from changes in the seasonality of the precipitation due to the particular location of the Greenland ice sheet next to the highly variable northern polar front. In this regard the situation is much simpler for central Antarctica and this should be reflected in the temperature interpretation of ice core isotopic records. We examine all relevant information, focusing on the East Antarctic Plateau where both model and empirical isotope-temperature estimates are available. (modified journ. abstr.).