[ecco-support] ECCO Mixed Layer Depths criteria

Mon May 1 22:44:07 EDT 2017

Martha,

I wouldn't say that there is a single MLD definition for ECCO v4 state estimates. Yes, there is a MLD output field that uses the 0.8 deg C criteria but I believe that MLD has no prognostic effect on the solution.  Model output can be used to calculate alternative MLDs.  For example, Gael provides three alternative MLD criteria (Kara, Suga, Boyer) to show the wintertime and summertime MLD plots as part of the standard analysis package.  

See pp 140-142 of 
ftp://snowwhite.jpl.nasa.gov/data4/Release3//doc/standardplots.pdf

In the Labrador Sea I used the following criteria to identify the base of mixed layer: the shallowest depth level with a potential density exceeding the profile minimum by 13 g m^−3.

Note that ECCOv4 uses the GGL90 package not KPP so there is no KPPhbl field.

If you want exact monthly-mean MLDs from the state estimate using an alternative criteria (e.g., potential density cutoff) then the forward model would have to be rerun since the MLD diagnosed from monthly-mean T and S are almost certainly not equal to the monthly mean of MLD because of nonlinearities.

-Ian

On 5/1/17, 7:18 PM, "ecco-support-bounces at mit.edu on behalf of Menemenlis, Dimitris (329C)" <ecco-support-bounces at mit.edu on behalf of Dimitris.Menemenlis at jpl.nasa.gov> wrote:

    Hi Martha, I don't have answer for your question.  I return discussion to ECCO support, and also include Daria in cc, in case someone else has advice for you.

    On May 1, 2017, at 6:39 PM, Martha Buckley <marthabuckley at gmail.com> wrote:

    Thanks for the replies.  It seems that all the ECCO products use the 0.8C density equivalent.  

    The reason I am asking is that I am calculating predictability timescales for temperature integrated over the maximum climatological (e.g., wintertime) MLD for a variety of different ocean data products.  I am trying to be as comparable as possible between
     products in the definition of MLD, but the MLD definitions for the products varies wildly (e.g. 0.4 kg/m^3 for ECDA and 0.8 C for ECCO v4).  The question is whether the most comparable approach is to apply the same criteria to all models/data (using for example
     monthly output) or whether there is a better approach. 
    Thanks!
    Martha

    ---------- Forwarded message ----------
    From: Wang, Ou (329B) <Ou.Wang at jpl.nasa.gov>
    Date: Mon, May 1, 2017 at 1:43 PM
    Subject: Re: [ecco-support] ECCO Mixed Layer Depths criteria
    To: "ECCO support list, wider membership" <ecco-support at mit.edu>

    The same default parameters were used for ECCOv4:
          hMixCriteria        = -.8 _d 0
          dRhoSmall           = 1. _d -6
          hMixSmooth          = 0. _d 0

    The criteria of the density equivalent of 0.8C is applied to the model profiles at the model time step. 

    Ou Wang

    From: <ecco-support-bounces at mit.edu> on behalf of "Menemenlis, Dimitris (329C)" <Dimitris.Menemenlis at jpl.nasa.gov>
    Reply-To: "ECCO support list, wider membership" <ecco-support at mit.edu>
    Date: Monday, May 1, 2017 at 10:19 AM
    To: "ECCO support list, wider membership" <ecco-support at mit.edu>
    Subject: Re: [ecco-support] ECCO Mixed Layer Depths criteria

    Don’t know what criterion was used for ECCOv4
    For cube92, the default parameters were used:

    C     hMixCriteria:: criteria for mixed-layer diagnostic
    C     dRhoSmall   :: parameter for mixed-layer diagnostic
    C     hMixSmooth  :: Smoothing parameter for mixed-layer diag (default=0=no smoothing)

          hMixCriteria        = -.8 _d 0
          dRhoSmall           = 1. _d -6
          hMixSmooth          = 0. _d 0

    C--   First method :
    C     where the potential density (ref.lev=surface) is larger than
    C       surface density plus Delta_Rho = hMixCriteria * Alpha(surf)
    C     = density of water which is -hMixCriteria colder than surface water
    C     (see Kara, Rochford, and Hurlburt JGR 2000 for default criterion)

    See model/src/calc_oce_mxlayer for other options.

    Another available definition (when using KPP scheme)
    is KPPhbl, which is the “mixing” layer depth.
    The daily maximum of KPPhbl is a very good proxy for
    mixed layer depth most places, except seasonally-sea-ice-covered and polar-winter regions.
    (Kara’s criterion is also problematic for polar regions, which tend to be salt-stratified.)

    On May 1, 2017, at 9:50 AM, Martha Buckley <marthabuckley at gmail.com> wrote:

    One follow up question regarding mixed layer depths in ECCO.  

    What is the criteria for the variable "MXLDEPTH" in the ecco v4 product.  I think I recall being told it is the density equivalent of 0.8C.  Two questions:
    (1) Is this the criteria that was used?  It the criteria applied to model profiles at the model timestep?
    (2) If so, isn't this criteria a bit large?  0.125 kg/m^3 or 0.5C seem common MLD criteria when applying criteria to monthly-averaged data.  However, criteria that are smaller (~0.03 kg/m^3 or ~0.2 C) are typically applied when using raw observational
     profiles.  

    I know that the MLD criteria is somewhat arbitrary, but I want an idea of the rational for the chosen criteria. 
    Thanks!
    Martha

    On Fri, Apr 28, 2017 at 6:04 PM, HONG ZHANG 
    <hong.zhang at ucla.edu> wrote:

    -------- Forwarded Message --------
    Subject: Re: [ecco-support] ECCO2 Mixed Layer Depths ConcernsDate: Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:48:59 -0700From: HONG ZHANG 
    <hong.zhang at ucla.edu> <mailto:hong.zhang at ucla.edu>To: Dimitris Menemenlis 
    <dmenemenlis at gmail.com> <mailto:dmenemenlis at gmail.com>, Moisan, John R. (WFF-610W) 
    <john.r.moisan at nasa.gov> <mailto:john.r.moisan at nasa.gov>CC: Daria Halkides 
    <halkides at esr.org> <mailto:halkides at esr.org>

    On 4/28/17 9:37 AM, Dimitris Menemenlis wrote:

    Daria or Hong, would you have looked at MXLDEPTH depth in the “cube92” solution?
    ftp://ecco2.jpl.nasa.gov/data1/cube/cube92/lat_lon/quart_90S_90N/MXLDEPTH.nc/

    John, why not use the ECCO-V4, which is data-constrained?
    http://www.ecco-group.org/products.htm
    ECCO v4 is on a 1-degree grid, which is closer to your desired 2x2 degree grid.

    Dimitris Menemenlis 

    On Apr 26, 2017, at 9:41 AM, Moisan, John R. (WFF-610W) <john.r.moisan at nasa.gov> wrote:

    Hello ECCO2’ers,

    I would like to make use of the Mixed-Layer Depth model outputs from the global model runs 1992-present (Nov. 2016) to drive some simple 1D biogeochemical models for CDOM.  I have binned to model outputs from the jpg site into monthly 2x2 deg. grids.  One thing
     of concern that I have is the trends in the global MLDs (see attached figure), which are more extreme in the SO.  Is there an issue with maintaining correct ocean boundary layers, esp. in the SO for this model?  Has this been observed yet?

    Hi John,
    You're right, MLD from cube92 run has bias in late stage
    because it's a free run for the later period.
    As Dimitris said, you can look at other ECCO product provided at the website.
    Please see attached fig showing MLD from ECCOv4 and ECCO llc270 for an example,
    where red line is for ECCOv4 (1992-2012) and blue line for ECCO llc270 (2001-2015) in upper plot
    also MLD for cube92 is also shown in lower plot for reference.

    cheers
    Hong

    _______________________________________________
    ecco-support mailing list
    ecco-support at mit.edu
    http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/ecco-support

    -- 
    Martha W. Buckley
    marthabuckley at gmail.com
    http://sites.google.com/site/marthabuckley/home

    _______________________________________________
    ecco-support mailing list
    ecco-support at mit.edu
    http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/ecco-support

    _______________________________________________
    ecco-support mailing list
    ecco-support at mit.edu
    http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/ecco-support

    -- 
    Martha W. Buckley
    marthabuckley at gmail.com
    http://sites.google.com/site/marthabuckley/home