A new model for the upper North Atlantic Ocean is presented and used to hindcast the SST from 1950 to 1988. The model consists of a matrix of one-dimensional (independent) columns in which a variable-depth, bulk mixed layer overlies a diffusive convective thermocline. The climatological annual cycle of heat flux convergence by the oceanic circulation is implicitly included in the formulation of the forcing. The 39-yr control integration of the model includes as surface forcing the shortwave and net longwave radiation from a control integration of the community climate model. Sensible and latent heat fluxes are determined from instantaneous values of surface temperature, humidity, and wind speed from the atmospheric model, and the SST simulated by the ocean model using the bulk formulae. The hindcast is performed by repeating the control integration, adding the observed, monthly mean surface anomalies in surface temperature, humidity, and wind speed for the period 1950–88. Thus, the simulated SST ... Abstract A new model for the upper North Atlantic Ocean is presented and used to hindcast the SST from 1950 to 1988. The model consists of a matrix of one-dimensional (independent) columns in which a variable-depth, bulk mixed layer overlies a diffusive convective thermocline. The climatological annual cycle of heat flux convergence by the oceanic circulation is implicitly included in the formulation of the forcing. The 39-yr control integration of the model includes as surface forcing the shortwave and net longwave radiation from a control integration of the community climate model. Sensible and latent heat fluxes are determined from instantaneous values of surface temperature, humidity, and wind speed from the atmospheric model, and the SST simulated by the ocean model using the bulk formulae. The hindcast is performed by repeating the control integration, adding the observed, monthly mean surface anomalies in surface temperature, humidity, and wind speed for the period 1950–88. Thus, the simulated SST ...