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Despite widespread use of branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) for paleo-temperature reconstruction, no global calibration for their application in lakes has been generated since improved analytical methods have allowed for the separation of the structural isomers. This is a substantial obstacle for the application of this tool as soil calibrations underestimate temperature values when applied to lake sediments. Here, we present a comprehensive dataset (N= 272) of lacustrine brGDGT distributions, consisting of both new and previously reported samples, spanning a wide range of geographical locations, air temperatures, and lakewater pH values. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis on the fractional abundance of brGDGTs indicates that temperature exerts a strong control (explaining 58% of the variance) on brGDGT distribution. The influence of water chemistry is weaker, with pH and …