A frequency-optimised temperature record for the Holocene

Existing global mean surface temperature reconstructions for the Holocene lack high-frequency variability that is essential for context ualising recent trends and extremes in the Earth's climate system. Here, we isolate and recombine archive-specific climate signals to generate a frequency-optimised record of inter annual to multi-millennial temperature changes for the past12000 years. Average temperatures before similar to 8000 years BP and after similar to 4000 years BP were 0.26(+/- 2.84)degrees C and 0.07 (+/- 2.11)degrees C cooler than the long-term mean (0-12000 years BP), while the Holocene Climate Optimum similar to 7000-4000 years BP was 0.40 (+/- 1.86)degrees C warmer. Biased towards Northern Hemisphere summer temperatures, our multi-proxy record captures the spectral properties of transient Earth system model simulations for the same spatial and season domain. The new frequency-optimised trajectory emphasises the importance and complex interplay of natural climate forcing factors throughout the Holocene, with an approximation of the full range of past temperature changes providing novel insights for policymakers addressing the risks of recent anthropogenic warming