2.1. Ocean Reanalysis Data

For the 2010–2013 zonal and meridional currents, temperature, salinity, and Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) data, we use the CMEMS Mediterranean Sea Physics Reanalysis Product (CMSPRP),²⁷ which has a temporal resolution of 3 h, a horizontal spatial resolution of 1/24°, and 141 vertical depth levels. The model code is based on the NEMO version 3.6⁵³ ocean general circulation model (OGCM), and the reanalysis is forced with atmospheric forcing fields from the ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis.³³ The simulated Mediterranean circulation and salinity/temperature fields match well with observations.^26,35

Since the CMSPRP does not account for wave forcing, we use the Mediterranean Sea Waves Reanalysis (MSWR)⁴⁴ for the peak wave period and meridional and zonal surface Stokes drift. This reanalysis product has a temporal resolution of 1 h and a horizontal spatial resolution of 1/24°. The model code is based on the ECMWF WAM 4.6.2 wave model²³ and is similarly forced with the ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis.³³

For calculating the wind-driven turbulent mixing within the surface mixed layer, we use hourly 10 m surface wind fields from the ECMWF ERA5 atmospheric reanalysis³³ for consistency with the CMSPRP and MSWR products.