Urban Heat Islands in Bahrain: An Urban Perspective
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The manuscript presents a method to analyse the Urban Heat Islands, based on the comparison between land use and temperature data, in Fall and Summer.
The conclusions are rather obvious: UHI is characterized by the dominance of artificial land cover and by the rarity of vegetation. Nevertheless, the proposed method is interesting and scientifically quite correct.
In fact, the most appreciable parts of the article are the analysis of the urban characteristics of the areas under investigation (lines 173-200) and the design indications at the end (lines 282-304) - unfortunately very general and not enough developed.
The presence of these analysis seems to disagree with the method, which is based on objective and numerical observations. But, in the reviewer’s opinion, this contradiction constitutes an appreciable element, as it demonstrates that it is not possible to treat urban planning issues exclusively in numerical terms.
In conclusion, the article deserves publication but still needs a deep revision.
In particular, it’s requested to correct/rewrite several sentences that are incorrect or not yet completely clear. Some examples: lines 85-90 (with grammar and typing errors), 91-97 (grammar and typing errors - moreover, the solstice is a day and cannot last two weeks); figure on the right line 135 (wrong series of five values "1" in the lower right corner), lines 147-148 (unclear and unfinished sentence), 144 and 168 (repeated sentence), 185 (active thermal treatments?), 190 (figure 9: the use of roofs is not so evident); and so on.
It should also be noticed that figure 1 does not show where Manama City is located (as stated in line 78) nor the relationship with the context (as in caption on line 81)
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The manuscript presents a method to analyse the Urban Heat Islands, based on the comparison between land use and temperature data, in Fall and Summer.
corrected
The conclusions are rather obvious: UHI is characterized by the dominance of artificial land cover and by the rarity of vegetation. Nevertheless, the proposed method is interesting and scientifically quite correct.
In fact, the most appreciable parts of the article are the analysis of the urban characteristics of the areas under investigation (lines 173-200) and the design indications at the end (lines 282-304) - unfortunately very general and not enough developed.
Done - corrected
The presence of these analysis seems to disagree with the method, which is based on objective and numerical observations. But, in the reviewer’s opinion, this contradiction constitutes an appreciable element, as it demonstrates that it is not possible to treat urban planning issues exclusively in numerical terms.
Done - corrected
In conclusion, the article deserves publication but still needs a deep revision.
In particular, it’s requested to correct/rewrite several sentences that are incorrect or not yet completely clear. Some examples: lines 85-90 (with grammar and typing errors), 91-97 (grammar and typing errors - moreover, the solstice is a day and cannot last two weeks); figure on the right line 135 (wrong series of five values "1" in the lower right corner), lines 147-148 (unclear and unfinished sentence), 144 and 168 (repeated sentence), 185 (active thermal treatments?), 190 (figure 9: the use of roofs is not so evident); and so on.
Done - corrected
It should also be noticed that figure 1 does not show where Manama City is located (as stated in line 78) nor the relationship with the context (as in caption on line 81)
Done - corrected
Reviewer 2 Report
The flow of the argument is greatly improved from the origin. However, I still cannot be totally convinced by the methodology and interpretations of the fact. I highlight some points for example.
The remote sensing data need to expand. I believe the accuracy of the study relies on multiple evidences in the collected data. The reason of collecting the two data (Fall, 2017 and Summer, 2018) is unclear - and not enough in terms of the UHI issues.
Direct link ‘higher surface temperature’ to ‘land use’ is dangerous - especially when the result, i.g., high temperature, is based on 1 or 2 images. Land use is important but not the only reason that result in the increase of local temperature.
A more basic challenge of the article, from my profession, is the author seems lacking of the atmospheric considerations of the UHI. The UHI is not only caused by land use or land cover. It is strongly related to the atmospheric environment (e.g., atmospheric deposition) and air pollution, both in terms of larger scale as well as the scale of micro-climate. If the author is not interested in these parts, I recommend the author to prove that the impact of these atmospheric factors are not considered, and can be excluded in the study. 

Minor comments about the logic and the English writing style.
- Line 15-17 Consequently, these cities are left to suffer from disregarded public spaces and a limited percentage of randomly designed and functionalized urban open spaces. - public spaces cannot directly consequence to the UHI.
- Line 27-29 The Arab Gulf region in general and Bahrain in particular, have witnessed a history urban accumulation, which has resulted in major problems today. - What does that mean? What kind of ‘problems’ it (a history urban accumulation) can make?
- Line 143-144 The rapid urban growth in Bahrain cities in general and in Manama in particular led to urban accumulation. Consequently, Manama become suffering from the conflict in landuses. - ‘the conflict in landuses’ need further explain.
- Line 163-164 It is evident that the area of urban heat islands in the
summer is larger than the temperature in the fall - logically incorrect.
Overall, I acknowledge the author’s efforts in preparing and presenting the article. I also feel the author consider the UHI as a synonym as increasing temperature, and take of land use as the sole factor of the UHI effect - which is scientifically inaccurate. More knowledge of the UHI can be conducted to make this article qualified.
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The flow of the argument is greatly improved from the origin. However, I still cannot be totally convinced by the methodology and interpretations of the fact. I highlight some points for example.
Done - corrected
The remote sensing data need to expand. I believe the accuracy of the study relies on multiple evidences in the collected data. The reason of collecting the two data (Fall, 2017 and Summer, 2018) is unclear - and not enough in terms of the UHI issues.
Done - corrected
Direct link ‘higher surface temperature’ to ‘land use’ is dangerous - especially when the result, i.g., high temperature, is based on 1 or 2 images. Land use is important but not the only reason that result in the increase of local temperature.
Done - corrected
A more basic challenge of the article, from my profession, is the author seems lacking of the atmospheric considerations of the UHI. The UHI is not only caused by land use or land cover. It is strongly related to the atmospheric environment (e.g., atmospheric deposition) and air pollution, both in terms of larger scale as well as the scale of micro-climate. If the author is not interested in these parts, I recommend the author to prove that the impact of these atmospheric factors are not considered, and can be excluded in the study. 

Done - corrected
Minor comments about the logic and the English writing style.
Had been checked from 2nd reviewers
- Line 15-17 Consequently, these cities are left to suffer from disregarded public spaces and a limited percentage of randomly designed and functionalized urban open spaces. - public spaces cannot directly consequence to the UHI.
Done
- Line 27-29 The Arab Gulf region in general and Bahrain in particular, have witnessed a history urban accumulation, which has resulted in major problems today. - What does that mean? What kind of ‘problems’ it (a history urban accumulation) can make?
Done
- Line 143-144 The rapid urban growth in Bahrain cities in general and in Manama in particular led to urban accumulation. Consequently, Manama become suffering from the conflict in landuses. - ‘the conflict in landuses’ need further explain.
Done
- Line 163-164 It is evident that the area of urban heat islands in the summer is larger than the temperature in the fall - logically incorrect.
corrected
Overall, I acknowledge the author’s efforts in preparing and presenting the article. I also feel the author consider the UHI as a synonym as increasing temperature, and take of land use as the sole factor of the UHI effect - which is scientifically inaccurate. More knowledge of the UHI can be conducted to make this article qualified.
Done – appreciated - excellent note and really useful to update
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The latest revision seems to meet all the reviewer's observations. Although further improvements are still possible, it must be assumed that, in the current form, the article complies the requirements to be accepted
