Significant Increase in Population Exposure to Extreme Precipitation in South China and Indochina in the Future
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
April 03, 2022
Manuscript: ‘Significant Increase in Population Exposure to Extreme Precipitation in South China and Indochina in the Future’
In this paper, 26 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project models are used to project the possible future changes in population exposure to precipitation extremes in South China and Indochina (INCSC). Unlike other similar articles, this work is based on phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). It is a relevant topic within the scope of the MDPI Sustainability journal. The article is well organized and neatly written with the appropriate scientific content.
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Title: it fits the paper content perfectly.
Abstract: it is quite adjusted to the paper content.
Introduction: it provides sufficient background and includes relevant references on phases 5 and 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), highlighting their limitations and strengths and the need to estimate the future changes in the exposure of populations to precipitation extremes over the INCSC region using the CMIP6. Objectives and the novelty are clearly presented.
Data and Methods: datasets and methods have been clearly described.
For clarity, add a section titled ‘the study area’ describing the South China and Indochina region (i.e., area, boundaries, countries, climate and terrain features, and population).
Table 1. Add a column with the source link for each model.
Results: the narrative is clear and supported by appropriate statistical metrics and figures.
Discussion: this section is too short—at least two paragraphs referring to recent literature are necessary.
Conclusion: these are clearly presented.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The main aim is to assess the population exposure to precipitation extremes over the INCSC region in the future and investigates the relative importance of climate and population to the likely future changes in population exposure based on CMIP6 multimodel projections under three SSPs (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5).”. The study has value in the context of hydrological events / extreme precipitation. However, as detailed above, the manuscript lacks a significant dimension such as the land-use change analysis and a robust/compelling conclusion for journal publication. Thus, I suggest that authors include this parameter to integrate their approach. In addition, they have to set the various scenarios familiar with the climatic (Business As Usual, Rapid Economic Development, and Ecological Land Protection). In the case of Business As Usual, authors could use the current and the coupled model that integrates “top-down” and “bottom-up” processes is capable of obtaining the optimized land use patterns under different scenarios and examining the potential impacts of land-use changes on ecosystem services in a spatially explicit way.
Also, I propose to increase the introduction length, including the precipitation extreme values, Stationarity and nonstationarity behavior of the precipitation time-series, population trends and growth patterns, land-use change, etc. However, authors have to include the scope of their work in session 1. In addition, it is essential to a methodology sub-session in chapter 2. Also, the most general critical comment is that the study is missing the truth validation for the results obtained in the research (discussion part).
Finally, it is suggested to avoid using the first person "we" because it generally creates less formal language.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have addressed the suggested revisions. I think that the modifications have improved the quality of the current manuscript, and I do not have any additional comments.
