For the upper part of the record (1992-1952) a calendar year was first assigned to each density-band couplet and hence to every 12 samples assuming linear subannual skeletal extension. Second, systematic variations in oxygen isotopic composition were correlated with monthly SST values by using the AnalySeties program [Paillard et al., 1996] to match the peaks and troughs in the two time series. For the lower part of the record (1657-1951), simple band counting was used to extend the chronology back to the beginning of the record, which we estimate to be 1657. Although we have no absolute dates on this coral, Crowley et al. [1997] recently demonstrated that some of the distinctive cool excursions in the mean annual record coincide within 1 year of known volcanic eruptions as determined from the volcano chronology of Sirekin and Siebert [1994] and various ice core records

Duplicate with Quinn 2002, Stephans 2004 for the interval 1992-1967 only. DeLong 2012 and 2013 updated the chronology for Quinn 1998, updated d18O and d13C paper is in progress. The new bottom date is 1649 and is based on cross-dating two cores and several 230Th dates. DeLong 2013 details several sections that were suboptimally sampled and replaced with new optimal sampling paths. Use this record with caution since it has changed.

there are some indications from the salinity record for New Caledonia [Quinn et al., 1996b] of interannual changes of as much as 0.5 per mil. The potential impact of a 0.5 per mil interannual salinity variation on d18O seawater enceo n interannucaol ral$ ?80r angefsr om 0.14 per mil [Fairbanks et al., 1997] to 0.15 per mil [Craig and Gordon, 1965]. This effect could explain part of the difference in the seasonal and mean annual slope of d180/SST is discussed above.

Calibration between the instrument (local SST and gridded GISST2) and proxy records was evaluated using two regression techniques: standard ordinary least sqaures and reduced major axis.

The original meta data on NOAA states there are five files, NC.Coral.5_98.xls (Microsoft Excel format), NC.1951-1657.Qtr.txt, NC.1992-1952.Mon.txt,  NC.Published.1992-1657.Qtr.txt, NC.RawData.txt (Tab delimited ASCII files of the individual sheets in NC.Coral.5_98.xls), but these appear to be missing from NOAA web site now. I have a copy archived of these files (kdelong@lsu.edu) as well as the new updated chronology and new d18O data that repalced the suboptimal sections discussed in DeLong 2013.