There are 8 CF compliant (https://cfconventions.org/) NetCDF 4 files that make up GOSML: A Global Ocean Surface Mixed Layer Statistical Monthly Climatology. Below is a brief description of the files and the variables that they contain. In addition to the variables in descriptions each file also contains longitude, latitude and month. mixed_layer_properties_95.nc contains a monthly climatology of mixed layer properties for 95th percentile of mixed layer depths. This files is recommended for an estimate of the values ventilating the interior ocean. Variables in mixed_layer_properties_95.nc are: conservative_temperature_95= Conservative Temperature (C) absolute_salinity_95= Absolute Salinity (g/kg) depth_95= Mixed Layer Depth (m) potential_density_95 = Potential Density (kg/m^3) mixed_layer_properties_50.nc contains a monthly climatology of mixed layer properties for 50th percentile. Variables in mixed_layer_properties_50.nc are: conservative_temperature_50= Conservative Temperature (C) absolute_salinity_50= Absolute Salinity (g/kg) depth_50= Mixed Layer Depth (m) potential_density_50= Potential Density (kg/m^3) mixed_layer_properties_5.nc contains a monthly climatology of mixed layer properties for 5th percentile. Variables in mixed_layer_properties_5.nc are: conservative_temperature_5= Conservative Temperature (C) absolute_salinity_5= Absolute Salinity (g/kg) depth_5= Mixed Layer Depth (m) potential_density_5 = Potential Density (kg/m^3) mixed_layer_properties_kurtosis.nc contains a monthly climatology of mixed layer properties for the kurtosis. Variables in mixed_layer_properties_kurtosis.nc are: conservative_temperature_kurtosis = Conservative Temperature absolute_salinity_kurtosis = Absolute Salinity depth_kurtosis = Mixed Layer Depth potential_density_kurtosis = Potential Density mixed_layer_properties_skewness.nc contains a monthly climatology of mixed layer properties for the skewness. Variables in mixed_layer_properties_skewness.nc are: conservative_temperature_skewness = Conservative Temperature absolute_salinity_skewness = Absolute Salinity depth_skewness = Mixed Layer Depth potential_density_skewness = Potential Density mixed_layer_properties_variance.nc contains a monthly climatology of mixed layer properties for the variance. Variables in mixed_layer_properties_variance.nc are: conservative_temperature_variance= Conservative Temperature (C^2) absolute_salinity_variance = bsolute Salinity ((g/kg)^2) depth_variance = Mixed Layer Depth (m^2) potential_density_variance = Potential Density ((kg/m^3)^2) mixed_layer_properties_mean.nc contains a monthly climatology of mixed layer properties for the mean. Variables in mixed_layer_properties_mean.nc are: conservative_temperature_mean = Conservative Temperature (C) absolute_salinity_mean = Absolute Salinity (g/kg) depth_mean = Mixed Layer Depth (m) potential_density_mean = Potential Density (kg/m^3) mixed_layer_properties_mapping_stats.nc contains a mapping statistics for monthly climatology of mixed layer. Variables in mixed_layer_mapping_stats.nc: mapped_latitude = mapped (weighted) latitude mapped_longitude = mapped (weighted) longitude sum_mapping_weights = Summed Weights (effective) number of profiles number_observations= Number of profiles If you use this dataset, please cite: Johnson, G.C., and J. M. Lyman. 2021. Global Ocean Surface Mixed Layer Monthly Climatology: Means, Percentiles, Skewness, and Kurtosis. Submitted, Journal of Geophysical Research.