Biogenic Elements of Atmospheric Fallout and Impact of Sub-Mediterranean Forest Communities of Downy Oaks on Changes in the Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Precipitation
, Roman Gorbunov 1, Vladimir Lapchenko 2, Tatiana Gorbunova 1,3 and Vladimir Tabunshchik 1Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript entitled, "Biogenic elements of atmospheric fallout and the impact of sub-Mediterranean forest communities of downy oaks on changes in the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation" is a good piece of work. But I have a few suggestions which I believe will improve the manuscript.
Abstract
The abstract should illuminate the main findings of the paper that can serve as a stand-alone document. However, authors have represented abstract in more generalized form. Authors should emphasize the levels of increment of different parameters assessed in % age values. I suggest revising abstract and incorporate significant results in the abstract for comparative framework.
Introduction
1. “Atmospheric precipitation not only contributes to the removal of impurities from the atmosphere, but also leads to the entry of various chemical elements into the surface waters of land and the World Ocean. The high efficiency of forest functioning is achieved due to the intensive and constant exchange of matter in the system atmosphere - forest canopy - soil. The chemical composition transformation of atmospheric water occurs after interaction with aboveground phytomass of forest stands. Precipitation is included in the biogeocenosis and actively affects the biological cycle. At the same time, the atmosphere is a significant source of biogenic elements, such as, for example, nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon, which most often limit the development of the productivity of aquatic ecosystems” You have written a paragraph and give one citation, please add more citations.
2. Line 45, “This leads to an increase in the c content for most components of the under-the-forest canopy rainfall, in comparison with atmospheric precipitation, including biogenic elements”. This sentence is not clear what is c contents?
Results:
The results are not well written, improve them as well.
Figures:
Line 129: In figure 4, please write NH4 as NH4+, and same for others. You do not discuss H2PO4.
General comments:
If you abbreviate any word, then use abbreviation throughout the manuscript.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Authors,Include the following suggestions for improving the quality of the manuscript further:
1. Abstract- Do not use abbreviations in the abstract directly instead use the first full form followed by abbreviations.
2. Introduction- Several grammatical and punctuation errors are present in the entire introduction and need corrections. Add some more information linking to your study that can attract the worldwide reader.
3. Results-Improve your table endnote and add significance levels. Figure axis is not properly given.
4. Conclusion-Concise conclusion
Overall improve your manuscript.
Regards,
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Some comments are presented here.
A crucial questions concern penetration of the water and migration of contaminants and the sources of contaminants in research area
It is evident that there is no linearity on Fig 9. So why authors use linera trends?
Description of the axis ( fig 6) is not clear, there is a lack of description y axis, also x axis ischard to read
Change the coma to dots in numbers, plots, tables
Each tables need more information why some values are bold?
Each correlation need information about number of data, level of confidence,
Table 3 and vey high correlation are surprising- could you add plots to correlations to confirm it please
What about migration of the elements?
What about impact of wet and dry depositon?
Other question are more general- please add information about source of contaminants in the research area, what are their sources and if it is connect with human activity- what is the level of emission during a year?
Is there any other species in this region then oaks?
How forests impact on amount of rain? Line 42
The source of water is a water taken by roots- it is not clear how water from precipitations penetrate frow crown to wood (line 42 etc...)
Check also the references format, it is not corrected
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
English should improve by a native person. The paper suffers from a poor English structure throughout and cannot be published or appropriately reviewed in the current format. The manuscript requires thorough proofreading by a native person whose first language is English. The problem instances are numerous and this manuscript cannot individually mention them. It is the responsibility of the author(s) to present their work in an acceptable format. Unless the paper is in a reasonable format, it should not have been submitted.
Figures: If possible, please improve the figure presentation.
Add error standard bars and their significant values.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: English should improve by a native person. The paper suffers from a poor English structure throughout and cannot be published or appropriately reviewed in the current format. The manuscript requires thorough proofreading by a native person whose first language is English. The problem instances are numerous and this manuscript cannot individually mention them. It is the responsibility of the author(s) to present their work in an acceptable format. Unless the paper is in a reasonable format, it should not have been submitted.
Response 1: The manuscript was proofread by a native person. Necessary corrections have been made.
Point 2: Figures: If possible, please improve the figure presentation.
Response 2: Done
Point 3: Add error standard bars and their significant values
Response 3: Done
Reviewer 3 Report
Crucial question and comment is
1. please add the figures with correlation (linear)
2. more detail infomation based on literature about cycle of the selected particles should be added
3. could you add more details how trees change initial chemical composition of precipitation- in which process? water is taken by root to photosynthesis?
4. please add the error bars to the plots, check the labels, captions etc
5. Coudl you add some references about line 175, 176 how selected elements impact on precipitation, wind, RH?
In my opinion this thesis is not true
6. I asked about additional plot which will present the relation between selected elements, especially where a high significant correlation was observed. I have filling that there is an efffect of grouping of the results.
It htis efect is there - than there is no real relationship
7. The format of references is not according to journal guides for author-check dots, comma.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 3 Comments
Point 1. more detail infomation based on literature about cycle of the selected particles should be added
Response 1 - was added
Point 2. could you add more details how trees change initial chemical composition of precipitation- in which process? water is taken by root to photosynthesis?
Response 2 - examples how trees change initial chemical composition of precipitation were added
Point 3. please add the error bars to the plots, check the labels, captions etc
Response 3 - The error bars to the plots were added. The labels, captions etc were checked. Edids done
Point 4. Coudl you add some references about line 175, 176 how selected elements impact on precipitation, wind, RH –
Response 4- some references about line 175, 176 how selected elements impact on precipitation, wind, RH were added
Point 5. I asked about additional plot which will present the relation between selected elements, especially where a high significant correlation was observed. I have filling that there is an efffect of grouping of the results. It htis efect is there - than there is no real relationship
Response 5 - plot which will present the relation between selected elements was added.
NO2- and NH4+ in rainwater in open area and in rainwater in forest are not denpend on each other. This may be due to the abnormal value of their concentration.
Point 6. The format of references is not according to journal guides for author-check dots, comma.
Response 6. format of references is according to journal guides now
Point 7. could you add more details how trees change initial chemical composition of precipitation- in which process? water is taken by root to photosynthesis?
Response 7. the same with the Response 3
Point 8. In table 3 – 0.09 is high correlation?
Response 8. 0.09 is not high correlation. It was made in bold because it correlation coefficient between contents NO2- in rainwater in open area and contents NO2- in rainwater in forest.
Point 9. Figure 9. There is no relationship if r= -0.18 and r= 0.08
Response 9. In work we noted that “pH – H2PO4- rainwater in an open area is almost independent of each other (r = 0.08)”. We don’t agree that there is no relationship if r= -0.18. This relationship is weak. We made an edit here.
Point 10. Figure 9. Could you change a relution? It is hard to read data.
Response 10. Done
Point 11. Figure 3 and etc. 21 is a day? a year? not clear
Response 11. 21 and 22 are 2021 and 2022 years.
Point 12. Figure 4. Could you add error bars of SD?
Response 12. An error bars of SD is added
Point 13. Figure 6. Please check the fonts
Response 13. The fonts were checked. Done
Point 14. Figure 7. Add an error bars. It is not clear what 21,22 means.
Response 14. An error bars was added. 21 and 22 are 2021 and 2022 years.
Point 15. please add the figures with correlation (linear)
Response 15 - figures with correlation (linear) was added
Point 16. Figure 1. It is hard to guess where is point and where is square
Response 16. Unfortunately, when adding a map to word, its quality deteriorated and it became impossible to distinguish between a green circle and a square. Although the image is high resolution. We have changed the color of the circle and the color of the square. This will help the reader navigate the map better.
Point 17. Could you add a plot.
Response 17. Figure about relationship between the concentration of inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus on the amount of precipitation, on the relative humidity of the air and on the wind speed were shown in figure 8. The linear dependence of inorganic nitrogen on inorganic phosphorus was added.
