  | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
      | 
   
   
    Winter
    (February 15) mixed layer 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    thickness
    is qualitatively similar 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    among
    the simulations. Thickness 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    in
    the MICOM mode simulation 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
    is
    larger within the subtropical 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    mode
    water formation region 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    than
    it is in the other simulations. 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
    Mixed
    layer thickness for KPP 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    simulations
    and for observations are 
     | 
   
   
    calculated
    by a minimum density 
     | 
     | 
   
   
     | 
   
   
    jump
    criterion. The smooth Levitus 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    climatology
    does not yield a good 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    estimate
    of mixed layer thickness 
     | 
     | 
   
   
    using this
    method. 
     | 
     |