Global data set of long-term summertime vertical temperature profiles in 153 lakes

Climate change and other anthropogenic stressors have led to long-term changes in lake thermal structure, including surface temperatures, deepwater temperatures, and vertical thermal gradients. Though many studies highlight generally consistent warming of surface water temperatures in lakes around the world, less is known about long-term trends in full vertical thermal structure and deepwater temperatures, which have been changing less consistently in both direction and magnitude. Here, we present a globally-expansive data set of summertime in-situ vertical temperature profiles from 153 lakes, with some time series beginning as early as 1912. We also compiled lake geographic, morphometric, and water quality variables that can influence vertical thermal structure through a variety of potential mechanisms in these lakes. These long-term time series of vertical temperature profiles and corresponding lake characteristics serve as valuable data for understanding changes and drivers of lake thermal structure in a time of rapid global and ecological change.