Mixed layer depth over the global ocean: An examination of profile data and a profile‐based climatology

A new 2° resolution global climatology of the mixed layer depth (MLD) based on individual profiles is constructed. Previous global climatologies have been based on temperature or density‐gridded climatologies. The criterion selected is a threshold value of temperature or density from a near‐surface value at 10 m depth (Δ T = 0.2°C or Δσ θ = 0.03 kg m −3 ). A validation of the temperature criterion on moored time series data shows that the method is successful at following the base of the mixed layer. In particular, the first spring restratification is better captured than with a more commonly used larger criteria. In addition, we show that for a given 0.2°C criterion, the MLD estimated from averaged profiles…