Spatial correlations between Alpine high-elevation and European low-elevation instrumental air temperatures are computed to assess the spatial representativity of a high-Alpine ice-core isotope proxy temperature record. the correlation analyses indicate that air-temperature records at Alpine ice-core drill sites are representative for central Europe, particularly in summer. While Alpine ice cores generally show a large scattering in the conserved section of the year, long-term records from low-accumulation sites consist almost solely of summer precipitation and thus reflect isotope proxy summer-temperature variability. However, correlation between seasonal and annual instrumental air temperature indicates that summer temperature variability provides an adequate approach to annual temperature variability. Comparison of long-term ice-core δ18O records from Colle Gnifetti (4450ma.s.l.), Monte Rosa, Western Alps, with local instrumental summer temperatures inferred from an instrumental network shows good agreement in the long-term scale. Thus Alpine long-term ice-core δ18O records are representative for central European air-temperature variability.