Evaluation of 15 models participating in Phase II of the Coordinated Ocean-ice Reference Experiments (CORE-II).
Focus on the representation of upper ocean water mass properties and sea-ice processes in the Southern Ocean.
Both the mean states and trends over the 1988–2007 period are presented.
The model solutions agree in their sea ice concentration, surface buoyancy fluxes, and summer mixed layer depths.
Significant differences in model representation exist for the winter mixed layer depths, and the trends in sea ice extent.