A high-resolution, three-dimensional thermomechanical ice-sheet model, which includes isostasy, the possibility of ice sheet expansion on the continentalshelf and refined climatic parameterisations, was used to investigate the basal thermal regime of the Greenland ice sheet. The thermodynamic calculations takeinto account the usual terms of heat flow within the ice, a thermal active bedrock layer in transient situations, and all of the effects associated with changes inice thickness and flow pattern. Basal temperature conditions are documented with respect to glacial-interglacial shifts in climatic boundary conditions, both insteady state as during simulations over the last two glacial cycles using the GRIP d180 record. It is found that the basal temperature field shows a largesensitivity in steady state experiments, but that during a glacial cycle, basal temperature variations are strongly damped, in particular in central areas. Acomparison has been made with measured data from deep ice cores and implications are discussed.