The mixed-layer depth in the Ocean Model Intercomparison Project (OMIP): impact of resolving mesoscale eddies
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Published:2023-07-12
Issue:13
Volume:16
Page:3849-3872
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ISSN:1991-9603
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Container-title:Geoscientific Model Development
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Geosci. Model Dev.
Author:
Treguier Anne MarieORCID, de Boyer Montégut Clement, Bozec Alexandra, Chassignet Eric P., Fox-Kemper BaylorORCID, McC. Hogg AndyORCID, Iovino DoroteaciroORCID, Kiss Andrew E.ORCID, Le Sommer JulienORCID, Li YiwenORCID, Lin Pengfei, Lique CamilleORCID, Liu HailongORCID, Serazin GuillaumeORCID, Sidorenko Dmitry, Wang QiangORCID, Xu Xiaobio, Yeager Steve
Abstract
Abstract. The ocean mixed layer is the interface between the ocean interior and the atmosphere or sea ice and plays a key role in climate variability. It is
thus critical that numerical models used in climate studies are capable of a good representation of the mixed layer, especially its depth. Here we
evaluate the mixed-layer depth (MLD) in six pairs of non-eddying (1∘ grid spacing) and eddy-rich (up to 1/16∘) models from the
Ocean Model Intercomparison Project (OMIP), forced by a common atmospheric state. For model evaluation, we use an updated MLD dataset computed from
observations using the OMIP protocol (a constant density threshold). In winter, low-resolution models exhibit large biases in the deep-water
formation regions. These biases are reduced in eddy-rich models but not uniformly across models and regions. The improvement is most noticeable in
the mode-water formation regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Results in the Southern Ocean are more contrasted, with biases of either sign remaining
at high resolution. In eddy-rich models, mesoscale eddies control the spatial variability in MLD in winter. Contrary to a hypothesis that the
deepening of the mixed layer in anticyclones would make the MLD larger globally, eddy-rich models tend to have a shallower mixed layer at most
latitudes than coarser models do. In addition, our study highlights the sensitivity of the MLD computation to the choice of a reference level and
the spatio-temporal sampling, which motivates new recommendations for MLD computation in future model intercomparison projects.
Funder
Agence Nationale de la Recherche National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Science Foundation National Natural Science Foundation of China Australian Research Council
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
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