Clumped Isotope Temperature

Invert a supplied Δ47=A/T_K²+B calibration only within caller temperature/reference-frame bounds; no universal isotope coefficients, diagenesis correction or validated paleotemperature.

Description

Carbonate clumped-isotope measurements require calibration and a consistent reference frame.

Carbonate clumped-isotope measurements require calibration and a consistent reference frame. Inverting that calibration gives a model temperature.

Invert a supplied Δ47=A/T_K²+B calibration only within caller temperature/reference-frame bounds; no universal isotope coefficients, diagenesis correction or validated paleotemperature.

When to use Clumped Isotope Temperature

Use this tool to invert a supplied Δ47=A/T_K²+B calibration only within caller temperature/reference-frame bounds; no universal isotope coefficients, diagenesis correction or validated paleotemperature.

Prepare the fossil measurements or occurrence records and the chosen calibration parameters. Retain the stated coordinate, age and measurement conventions.

How to use Clumped Isotope Temperature and understand its results

Prepare the fossil measurements or occurrence records and the chosen calibration parameters. Retain the stated coordinate, age and measurement conventions.
Enter measuredClumpedDelta47, calibrationA, calibrationB, calibrationTemperatureBoundsK using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
Read modelTemperatureKelvin. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.

Input field	Meaning	Value type; see rules below	Requirement
measuredClumpedDelta47	Measured clumped delta47	number	Required
calibrationA	Calibration a	number	Required
calibrationB	Calibration b	number	Required
calibrationTemperatureBoundsK	Calibration temperature bounds k	list of number	Required

Use positive A and two ordered positive kelvin bounds. Require Δ47 greater than B and the resulting temperature within the inclusive calibration domain. Return kelvin, without silently converting to Celsius.^[1]

temperature K = sqrt(A/(Δ47 − B))

Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.

Output field	Meaning	Value type
modelTemperatureKelvin	Model temperature kelvin	number

json

{
  "input": {
    "measuredClumpedDelta47": 0.75,
    "calibrationA": 45000,
    "calibrationB": 0.25,
    "calibrationTemperatureBoundsK": [
      250,
      350
    ]
  },
  "output": {
    "modelTemperatureKelvin": 300
  }
}

Limitations and assumptions

No universal coefficients, diagenesis correction or validated paleotemperature are supplied.

Numbers and computed results must be finite; overflow produces an error. Numeric lists are limited to 100,000 entries; the rules above may require smaller limits. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.

Alternative or Complementary methods

Use Mg/Ca Paleothermometry: Invert caller Mg/Ca=A exp(B T_C) with calibration-domain guard and ratio-only uncertainty; units/taxon/calcification-depth and dissolution effects remain explicit external assumptions. For a complementary task, use Foraminifera Test Coiling Ratio Percent: Report observed foraminiferal coiling proportions with ambiguous tests retained on the full denominator; chirality alone does not infer temperature or a species identity.

References

Clumped Isotope Temperature — tool.io

Similar or alternative tools

Mg/Ca Paleothermometry
Invert caller Mg/Ca=A exp(B T_C) with calibration-domain guard and ratio-only uncertainty; units/taxon/calcification-depth and dissolution effects remain explicit external assumptions.
Foraminifera Test Coiling Ratio Percent
Report observed foraminiferal coiling proportions with ambiguous tests retained on the full denominator; chirality alone does not infer temperature or a species identity.