Assessment of mixed layer models embedded in an ocean general circulation model

The atmospheric mixed layer obtained using the Mellor–Yamada model grows slower and becomes shallower than observed, which motivated Nakanishi and Niino (J Meteorol Soc Jpn 87:895–912, 2009) to present a modified version of the Mellor–Yamada model. In this study, incorporating each of the Mellor–Yamada and the Nakanishi–Niino models into an ocean general circulation model, we evaluate its performance in the ocean. Comparing the numerical results with the observed ones in the western North Pacific, the Nakanishi–Niino model is shown to exhibit a better performance than the Mellor–Yamada model under strong wind forcing and sea surface cooling during winter and after passage of typhoons during summer.