Crenarchaeotal membrane lipids in lake sediments: A new paleotemperature proxy for continental paleoclimate reconstruction?

Paleoclimate studies of continental environments have been hampered by the lack of an independent paleotemperature proxy. A novel sea-surface temperature proxy has been proposed for marine systems based on membrane lipids of marine crenarchaeota. This proxy will provide an independent continental paleotemperature tool that will allow paleoclimatologists to address fundamental questions about temperature variability in continental environments and its relationship to climate change.