3. Evaluation of the new initialization procedure
b. Comparison to AXBT profiles and another ocean data assimilation technique
2) IMPACT OF LCPROFILE MODIFICATION: DATA2-ASSIMILATED PROFILES
Close examination of the data- and data2-assimilated LCPROFILES (here shown before SST assimilation) reveals that the data2-assimilated LCPROFILE is up to ~0.5°C colder than the data-assimilated LCPROFILE from the base of the OML (~55-m depth) down to almost the 26°C level (115-m depth; the difference changes sign at ~105-m depth), but the former is nearly 2°C warmer than the latter at 150-m depth (Fig. 6). As expected, the difference between the data- and data2-assimilated profiles is small at the AXBT locations that are outside of the LC (not shown), but the difference between the data- and data2-assimilated profiles at AXBT locations 4-9 (inside the LC) is consistent with difference between their respective LCPROFILES (Fig. 7). Comparison with the AXBT profiles reveals that the data2-assimilated profiles are generally more accurate than the data-assimilated profiles (Fig. 7), especially below 100-m depth, but since this increased accuracy is mostly confined to below the 26°C level, it cannot improve the estimation of the TCHP, as discussed in the next section.