Hydrological Dynamics of the Pantanal, a Large Tropical Floodplain in Brazil, Revealed by Analysis of Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper presents to determine the maximum extent of inundation and the seasonal gradient of inundation of the floodplain in the Ramsar Site Sesc-Pantanal RSSP in the last five years using remote sensing. The paper shows interesting hydrological and geomorphological study supported by remote sensing. Paper is well written and good organizing. I have some suggestions to Authors that can imporove quality of presentatrion:
1. In introduction I feel lack motivation performing these studies. Here is described current knowledge but what was reason performing these studies?
2. L 211-219: I am not sure if it is necessary describing what was downloaded and installed. More important is show what method was used and what was done.
3. Table 2 Quality of the table is insufficiently
4. Fig 4 monthly flow?
5. CHapter 4.1: The table can be replaced by figure when monthly average flows for all multiyear would be shown. It can help to detect hydrological regime in this basin. Also some seasonality of flow would be calculated, for example Colwell indicators, that are often use in ecohydrology.  These indicattors can show predictability of flow.
6. L452-455: how this behaviour inflience of habitat conditions?
7. Discussion: This chapter should be divided on discussion and conslusions or final remarks

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

The paper presents to determine the maximum extent of inundation and the seasonal gradient of inundation of the floodplain in the Ramsar Site Sesc-Pantanal RSSP in the last five years using remote sensing. The paper shows interesting hydrological and geomorphological study supported by remote sensing. Paper is well written and good organizing. I have some suggestions to Authors that can imporove quality of presentatrion:

1. 
   In introduction I feel lack motivation performing these studies. Here is described current knowledge but what was reason performing these studies?

Rep1: We have adjusted the introduction according to the recommendations of each reviewer, however the main reason for doing this study is to analyze inundation and land cover in a large nature reserve in the northern Pantanal using optical imagery from the Sentinel-2 satellite.

2. 
   L 211-219: I am not sure if it is necessary describing what was downloaded and installed. More important is show what method was used and what was done.

Rep2: ok, we moved this part

3. 
   Table 2 Quality of the table is insufficiently

Rep3: Moved

4. 
   Fig 4 monthly flow?

Rep4: Mean monthly discharge

5. 
   CHapter 4.1: The table can be replaced by figure when monthly average flows for all multiyear would be shown. It can help to detect hydrological regime in this basin. Also some seasonality of flow would be calculated, for example Colwell indicators, that are often use in ecohydrology.  These indicattors can show predictability of flow.

Rep5: The table was replaced

6. 
   L452-455: how this behaviour inflience of habitat conditions?

Rep6: adjusted

7. 
   Discussion: This chapter should be divided on discussion and conslusions or final remarks

Rep7: Adjusted

 

Reviewer 2 Report

The article deals with an interesting topic and is interesting for the journal’s readers. Some minor comment for improvement are the following:

Line 46. Mentioned the importance of floodplain determination for the identification of infrastructure and environmental areas exposure to flood as highlighted in recent studies(https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9080145, https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9120218)

Line 68. Add a statement: The growing availability of EO data and the well-established use of new geospatial technologies make feasible and reduced processing time in spatial analysis (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106564, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2019.05.003).

Line 102. Are there any other similar studies in the recent literature? What’s the novel point of your approach?

Add some targets for future research direction.

 

 

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments

The article deals with an interesting topic and is interesting for the journal’s readers. Some minor comment for improvement are the following:

Line 46. Mentioned the importance of floodplain determination for the identification of infrastructure and environmental areas exposure to flood as highlighted in recent studies(https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9080145, https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology9120218)

Rep1 : done

Line 68. Add a statement: The growing availability of EO data and the well-established use of new geospatial technologies make feasible and reduced processing time in spatial analysis (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106564, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2019.05.003).

Rep2 : Done

Line 102. Are there any other similar studies in the recent literature? What’s the novel point of your approach?

Rep3: Yes there is similar studies in the recent literature, but our study will be useful for management and restoration of this reserve and similar areas in the Pantanal, and our approach can be applied in similar tropical floodplains.

Add some targets for future research direction.

Rep:4 Done

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

The topic of your research is of interest but the manuscript in its actual form is not ready for the publication in my opinion.

The main issue regards its structure.

- The introduction is a mixing of introduction and study are description: this second part must be moved to the relevant section, while a reader must be introduced, starting from the large scale, to the topic of your research. References should be implemented with new elements accordingly.

- The Discussion section actually is a mix of comments and some discussion:  please properly and critically discuss the results you obtained, eventually comparing to other researches.

- The Conclusion section completely lacks: a part of it is improperly included into the Discussion section.

Besides, you mention the application of the Kappa index but I did not find any trace of it. Some other points regards the quality of some figures and other comments that you can find in the annotated version of the manuscript.

Finally, many errors in English language request the manuscript to be properly revised before submitting it.

Best regards

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 3 Comments

The topic of your research is of interest but the manuscript in its actual form is not ready for the publication in my opinion.

Rep1: We are recently worked a lot to have a better version of the manuscript, we hope it can be provided more what you are really expect for.

The main issue regards its structure.

- The introduction is a mixing of introduction and study are description: this second part must be moved to the relevant section, while a reader must be introduced, starting from the large scale to the topic of your research. References should be implemented with new elements accordingly.

Rep2: We are doing our best to re-writ the introduction like you suggested.

- The Discussion section actually is a mix of comments and some discussion:  please properly and critically discuss the results you obtained, eventually comparing to other researches.

Rep3: Done

- The Conclusion section completely lacks: a part of it is improperly included into the Discussion section.

Rep4: re-write

Besides, you mention the application of the Kappa index but I did not find any trace of it. Some other points regard the quality of some figures and other comments that you can find in the annotated version of the manuscript.

Rep5: We considerate all of you suggestion.

Finally, many errors in English language request the manuscript to be properly revised before submitting it.

Rep: English revision was made.

Best regards

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The article revised and now is ready for publication