Review Reports - The Influence of Vegetation on Climate Elements in Northwestern China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article is devoted to the actual problem of the climate change. The authors studied the influence of spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of vegetation (vegetation coverage and leaf area index) and climate elements (surface temperature, albedo, precipitation, total evaporation) in the northwest China and conducted a correlation analysis between them. The results contribute to the study of climate change in the northwest China and show the relationship of spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of vegetation with regional climate.

Title

The title generally agrees with the content of the article. However, I am not sure that it is legitimate to write about mechanisms of influence. The article examines the influence of some vegetation characteristics on the climate in Northwestern China.

Introduction

No emphasis has been placed on the novelty of study and its significance for the scientific community. In my opinion, it may be of interest to indicate for which regions similar studies have already been carried out.

Materials and Methods

Research methods are not described fully. It is necessary to describe in more detail how the analysis was carried out, to characterize the research region and vegetation. The authors did not provide a map of the studied region.

General phrases should not be written in the text of the methodology, for example, “among other methods” (line 92).

In my opinion, the first paragraph of section 3.1 (line 98-107) should be moved to the methodology. Because it explains why these vegetation characteristics were chosen.

Results

The results of the study are presented quite clearly and illustrated with six figures. The authors show the average annual distribution of vegetation coverage and leaf area indices (LAI); the spatial and temporal distribution of surface temperature, albedo, precipitation, total evaporation, as well as the relationship between LAI and these climate characteristics in Northwestern China from 1979 to 2020.

There are errors in the formatting of the text:

- delete unnecessary text: “It should provide a concise and precise description of the experimental results, their interpretation, as well as the experimental conclusions that can be drawn” (line 95-96).

- fix the link to the figure: Figure 2b (line 115).

Discussion

This section requires editing. The discussion usually discusses the results obtained, compares them with previous studies, and discusses controversial issues or difficulties. The authors should support their reasoning with references.

Conclusions

This section should also be edited. Authors should indicate the main conclusions from their results, and then describe their importance and practical relevance.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1

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Title

Response: Accepted! We have revised the title as suggested. Please refer to Line 2 in the revised version.

Introduction

Response: Thanks for the reviewer’s insightful comments. Most other researchers have primarily focused on studying individual climate variables based on patterns and models, rather than conducting comprehensive investigations on multiple meteorological elements. We have incorporated the findings of several other researchers from the Northwestern region. Please refer to Lines 69-81 in the revised version.

Materials and Methods

Response: Accepted! We have taken your suggestions into account and made the necessary revisions to the paper. In the methodology section, we have provided a more detailed description and included the necessary formulas. Please refer to Lines 120-132 in the revised version. We have added a map of the study area that features a scale, compass, and clearly depicts the elevation of the region. Please refer to Line 97 in the revised version. Due to the inclusion of an additional figure, we have revised the numbering of the images and highlighted them in yellow.

General phrases should not be written in the text of the methodology, for example, “among other methods” (line 92).

Response: Accepted! We have revised the text as suggested. Please refer to Line 119 in the revised version.

In my opinion, the first paragraph of section 3.1 (line 98-107) should be moved to the methodology. Because it explains why these vegetation characteristics were chosen.

Response: Accepted! We have revised the text as suggested. Please refer to Lines 100-109 in the revised version.

Results

There are errors in the formatting of the text:

Response: Accepted! We have deleted the text as suggested. Please refer to Line 134 in the revised version.

- fix the link to the figure: Figure 2b (line 115).

Response: Accepted! We have revised the text as suggested. Please refer to Line 143 in the revised version.

Discussion

Response: Thanks for the reviewer’s insightful comments. Please refer to Lines 314-318 in the revised version.

Conclusions

This section should also be edited. Authors should indicate the main conclusions from their results, and then describe their importance and practical relevance.

Response: Thanks for the reviewer’s insightful comments. We have revised the text as suggested. Please refer to Line 320 in the revised version.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1- The subject of the research lacks any specific innovation.
2- The research method lacks any specific innovation.
3- The achievement and results of the research are already clear and there is no need for research anymore. In other words, everything mentioned in the presented manuscript can be a comprehensive introduction to provide an innovative evaluation index or a new comparison and analysis method.
4- The literature review of this manuscript is incomplete and the authors should read more articles and publications so that they may be able to accurately find the gaps and lack of research and complete their research.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2

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The subject of the research lacks any specific innovation.

Response: Thanks for the reviewer’s insightful comments. Most other researchers have primarily focused on studying individual climate variables based on patterns and models, rather than conducting comprehensive investigations on multiple meteorological elements. In future work, we will pay greater attention to this aspect.
2- The research method lacks any specific innovation.

Response: Thanks for the reviewer’s insightful comments. We will further study the impact of vegetation on climate using biophysical mechanisms. This approach will be relatively more novel.

3- The achievement and results of the research are already clear and there is no need for research anymore. In other words, everything mentioned in the presented manuscript can be a comprehensive introduction to provide an innovative evaluation index or a new comparison and analysis method.

Response: Accepted! Thanks for the reviewer’s insightful comments. We will conduct a more in-depth investigation into the influence of vegetation on climate by exploring biophysical mechanisms.

4- The literature review of this manuscript is incomplete and the authors should read more articles and publications so that they may be able to accurately find the gaps and lack of research and complete their research.

Response: Accepted! In future research, we will pay attention to the completeness of the literature review and identify gaps in previous studies to produce more meaningful results.

Minor editing of English language required.

Response: Thank you for your valuable suggestions for improving the English language in the manuscript. I appreciate the time and effort you have dedicated to providing constructive feedback. I have carefully considered your recommendations and made the necessary revisions.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear dear editor-in-chief

Thank you very much for the review invitation of manuscript and I read a manuscript titled "The Influence Mechanism of Vegetation on Climate Elements in Northwestern China"

Dear Authors, I have read and assessed your manuscript. The present work evaluated spatial-temporal characteristics of vegetation leaf area index and climate elements in typical regions of northwest China as the correlations between vegetation leaf area index. We understood that Vegetation is an important guarantee for maintaining the balance between nature and water and soil resources. Based on the findings of this study, it can be seen that measures taken to increase vegetation cover in the northwest region have certain benefits. To address the severe ecological issues in arid and semi-arid areas, measures such as afforestation can be implemented to restore the ecosystem, increase vegetation cover, and subsequently impact climate change in the region. This may lead to a natural increase in vegetation cover and form a positive feedback loop, thereby improving the ecological environment of the region.

I commend your efforts. Nevertheless, I have some suggestions that can improve the work.

Specific comments

All Figures: Please kindly add more information that should be provided on the maps. Scale bar, legend, and North arrow

Methodology: Rather than just listing the methods employed in the study, it is vital to clarify them. Please kindly add details methodology.

Figure 6: Relationship between LAI and surface temperature. Please double-check the R values because it is excellent, however FIgure6 does not. Is it necessary to rearrange the graphics in Figure 6 to make it easier for readers to follow because they exhibit alternating negative and positive correlations?

Discussion: The discussion needs to be supplemented with comparisons with similar studies around the world.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3

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I commend your efforts. Nevertheless, I have some suggestions that can improve the work.

Specific comments

All Figures: Please kindly add more information that should be provided on the maps. Scale bar, legend, and North arrow

Response: Accepted! We have added the figure as suggested. Please refer to Line 97 in the revised version.

Methodology: Rather than just listing the methods employed in the study, it is vital to clarify them. Please kindly add details methodology.

Response: Accepted! We have added the revised as suggested. Please refer to Lines 121-133 in the revised version.

Response: Accepted! We have revised the Figure 6 as suggested. Please refer to Line 255 in the revised version. Furthermore, we have modified the image numbering in the text, and the revised portions have been highlighted in yellow.

Discussion: The discussion needs to be supplemented with comparisons with similar studies around the world.

Response: Thanks for the reviewer’s insightful comments. Please refer to Lines 314-318 in the revised version.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Unfortunately, the amendments proposed in the previous stage have not been considered. It seems that the authors are confident in the publication of their manuscripts, arrogantly!

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2

Thank you for taking the time to review our manuscript. We would like to express our gratitude for your constructive feedback.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Accept in current form

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3

Thank you for taking the time to review our manuscript. We would like to express our gratitude for your constructive feedback.