Palaeoenvironmental records and climate models are two contrasting and yet complementary sources of information on past climates. Both approaches independently generate insights into the dynamics of the climate system. However, more information can be extracted about the drivers of climate variability and change when the two approaches are combined. Climate reconstructions can be used to constrain and evaluate model simulations, while climate models can be used to explore the mechanisms that have driven past climatic changes. Palaeoclimate data–model comparisons can also be used to assess model performance, to constrain projections of future climate change, or to study the drivers of climate variability and change.

Here we invite contributions that integrate data from observational sources and climate models; data-model comparisons (including isotope enabled models or local calibration studies); studies that use data records to evaluate climate models or studies that use climate model outputs to understand the physical controls of climate variability.