One
 annual cycle of upper ocean
 variability
 is illustrated by
 imaging
 the temperature field
 and
 superimposing the vertical
 coordinate
 interfaces and the
 mixed
 layer base (thick line).
 
 The
 annual cycle at point STMW
 represents
 variability in the
 subtropical
 mode water formation
 region
 at the northern edge of 
 the
 subtropical gyre. As
 illustrated
 earlier, the mode water
 temperature
 is most accurate in
 the
 KPP simulation, but
 substantially
 too cold in the
 MICOM
 mode simulation.