Untangling the effects of vertical mixing schemes  and convective adjustment in the Mediterranean  Sea: insights from a sensitivity study

Gualtieri, Lucia; Burchard, Hans; Borile, Federica; Moulin, Aimie; Miraglio, Pietro; Maicu, Francesco; Clementi, Emanuela; Oddo, Paolo

doi:10.5194/gmd-19-7041-2026

Articles | Volume 19, issue 14

https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-7041-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Special issue:

Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean - NEMO

https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-7041-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 19, issue 14

Model evaluation paper

|

31 Jul 2026

Model evaluation paper |

| 31 Jul 2026

Untangling the effects of vertical mixing schemes and convective adjustment in the Mediterranean Sea: insights from a sensitivity study

Lucia Gualtieri, Hans Burchard, Federica Borile, Aimie Moulin, Pietro Miraglio, Francesco Maicu, Emanuela Clementi, and Paolo Oddo

Data sets

Global Ocean-In-Situ Near-Real-Time Observations E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (CMEMS), Marine Data Store (MDS) https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00036

Global Ocean Physics Analysis and Forecast E.U. Copernicus Marine Service Information (CMEMS), Marine Data Store (MDS) https://doi.org/10.48670/moi-00016

EFAS v5.0 hydrological reanalysis Cinzia Mazzetti et al. https://doi.org/10.2905/JRC.QYN1A3R

Mediterranean Sea Physical Analysis and Forecast (CMEMS MED-Physics, EAS8 system) (Version 1) [Data set] Emanuela Clementi et al. https://doi.org/110.25423/CMCC/MEDSEA_ANALYSISFORE CAST_PHY_006_013_EAS8

Model code and software

NEMO ocean engine. In Scientific Notes of IPSL Climate Modelling Center (Version v4.2, Issue 27) Gurvan Madec et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6334656

WAVEWATCH-III.v6.07.1 NOAA-EMC https://github.com/NOAA-EMC/WW3/releases

Short summary

This study addresses a gap in understanding how turbulent mixing closure schemes and convective adjustments interplay in the Mediterranean Sea. Coupled ocean-wave simulations were performed with different mixing parameterizations and model results were compared against Argo float observations across different space and time scales. Results show that the Generalised Length Scale closure scheme best reproduces observed mixed layer properties and variability, without needing convective adjustment.