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Ocean mixed layer depth: A subsurface proxy of ocean-atmosphere |
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variability |
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|
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K. Lorbacher, D. Dommenget, P.P. Niiler and R.E. Davis, SIO |
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|
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The spatial and temporal variability of dominant atmospheric forcing |
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mechanisms setting up the structure of the ocean turbulent surface layer |
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are well documented. To quantify, understand and ultimately predict |
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ocean-atmosphere interactions on climate relevant time scales |
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identifying the depth of this layer, in addition to the SST, is cruical. |
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However, |
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observed ocean mixed layer depths (MLDs) -- in the quality of SST |
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observations -- |
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do not exist yet. |
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|
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We investigate hydrographic data with high and low vertical resolution |
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obtained during the WOCE period to determine the quality of the observed |
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ocean MLD applying two criteria for this depth provided by the recent |
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literature. Considerable discrepancies in the results motivates us to |
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optimize a criterion estimating ocean MLDs. We include a solution of the |
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global ECCO state estimation in our analysis to test the sensitivity of |
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both observed and diagnosed MLDs and their climate variability to |
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different criteria. |