Soil n-alkane δD and glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) distributions along an altitudinal transect from southwest China: Evaluating organic molecular proxies for paleoclimate and paleoelevation

•δDwax and soil GDGT temperature are analyzed across 3km of elevation change.•Data show clear relationships between soil isotopes and precipitation isotopes.•Soil temperatures reliably follow station temperature data.•A thermodynamic model is used to link temperature and isotope change with elevation.