Mixed layer depth climatology computed with a density threshold criterion of 0.03kg/m3 from 10 m depth value

The dataset made available here is the monthly climatology (i.e. 12 months) of ocean surface Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) over the global ocean, at 1 degree x 1 degree spatial resolution. The climatology is based on about 7.3 million casts/profiles of temperature and salinity measurements made at sea between January 1970 and December 2021. Those profiles data come from the ARGO program and from the NCEI-NOAA World Ocean Database (WOD, Boyer et al. 2018). The MLD is computed on each individual cast/profile using a threshold criterion. The depth of the mixed layer is defined as the shallowest depth where the surface potential density of the profile is superior to a reference value taken close to the surface added with the chosen threshold. Here we take a threshold value for the density of 0.03kg/m3, and a surface reference depth fixed at 10m (de Boyer Montégut et al., 2004). This mixed layer is by definition homogeneous in density (up to 0.03 kg/m3 variations) and can also be called an isopycnal layer. It is especially intended for validation of MLD fields of the Ocean General Circulation Models of the ocean sciences community (e.g. Tréguier et al., 2023, Iovino et al. 2023, using v2022 of this dataset). More information and some other related datasets can be found at : https://cerweb.ifremer.fr/mld (or https://www.umr-lops.fr/en/Data/MLD redirecting to previous page).

Date (Publication): 2023-07-13

Date (Revision): 2025-06-05

Other citation details: de Boyer Montégut Clément (2023). Mixed layer depth climatology computed with a density threshold criterion of 0.03kg/m3 from 10 m depth value. SEANOE. https://doi.org/10.17882/91774

In addition to properly cite this dataset, it would be appreciated that the following work(s) be cited too, when using this dataset in a publication :

de Boyer Montegut Clement, Madec Gurvan, Fischer Albert S., Lazar Alban, Iudicone Daniele (2004). Mixed layer depth over the global ocean: An examination of profile data and a profile-based climatology. Journal Of Geophysical Research-oceans, 109(C12/C12003), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JC002378

Credit: The production of this MLD climatology relies on individual profile measurements of pressure/depth, temperature and salinity made at sea. Those data come from several sources. The Argo data were collected and made freely available by the International Argo Program and the national programs that contribute to it. (https://argo.ucsd.edu, https://www.ocean-ops.org ). The Argo Program is part of the Global Ocean Observing System. All other kind of casts/profiles comes from the World Ocean Database (WOD, Boyer et al. 2018). First released in 1994, and updated regularly since then, the World Ocean Database represents the world’s largest collection of vertical profile data of ocean characteristics available internationally without restriction.

Author

Ifremer, LOPS (University of Brest - Ifremer - Cnrs - Ird, UMR6523), Plouzané, France - DE BOYER MONTÉGUT Clément

Publisher

SEANOE

Theme