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1 Do ice core temperature reconstruction studies have a calibration step, or is the relationship between Oxygen-18 and mean global temperature considered linear enough that this is not required?
2 Irrespective of whether calibration is used or not, do ice core reconstruction studies supply a verification statistic (R-square) against the instrumental temperature record?
Please could you point me to any papers containing these statistics
On the temperature calculation using the 18O isotopes: Calibration: The samples are always plotted against the VSMOW (Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water) which is always 0 permil.
Info: We calibrate every Sample against recent ocean water Oxygen-18. 18O concentrations in the sample similar to the ocean water have a 18O signature about 0 permil
The temperatures can be calculated according to the equations (in high latitudes):
$\delta^{18}\textrm{O} = (0.521 \pm 0.014)t_a - (14.96 \pm 0.21)^0\!\!/\!_{00}$
For further information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/isotopic-fractionation
It is a lovely introduction to this highly interesting topic! Keep interested in this topic!
