Dear authors,

After careful analysis of your manuscript, the pertinent reviewer comments and your thoughtful responses in a fertile open discussion stage, it has become clear that:
1) the research problems and interdisciplinary covered in the manuscript are relevant for ESD;
2) the manuscript has significant potential for being further matured, following suggestions from the reviewers and improvements already outlined by the authors in their responses;
3) a revised manuscript along the lines debated in the discussion stage and in the additional enclosed comments would merit further consideration for publication at ESD, after successful completion of a new round of full peer review.

Therefore, I kindly invite the authors to prepare and submit a revised manuscript.

I wish the authors all the best in their revision efforts, and look forward to the revised submission.

With kindest regards,

Rui Perdigão
ESD Editor

Dear Authors,

Thank you for all your efforts in producing a significantly revised manuscript.

As it currently reads, the document properly conveys the overall quality of your work in a clear, effective manner.

At this stage, there is still room for minor improvements, in line with recommendations from two of the referees. A couple of editorial suggestions are added in my side notes.

Therefore, your manuscript is deemed appropriate for publication at Earth System Dynamics, subject to minor revisions.

I look forward to the revised version.

With very best wishes,

Rui Perdigão
(ESD Editor)

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Editorial side notes:

1) Figure S4 caption:
- "Oktober" should read "October".

2) Figure S7:
Red-green colour combination: if you find it easily feasible and appropriate, you might consider readjusting the colour scheme to avoid coexistence between red and green. The excellent colour scheme consistently used in the other figures (e.g. S5, S6) could yield a good colour combination involving e.g. blue, dark yellow and red.

Dear authors,

After thorough analysis of the revised manuscript, I can confirm that you have aptly addressed the raised questions and produced a significantly improved version.

The interdisciplinary strength of your work is a welcome contribution to Earth System Dynamics (ESD). Moreover, the active peer-review debate on your findings provides good promise for further fertile discussions and research in our community.

Therefore, I hereby accept the manuscript for final publication at ESD.

With kindest regards,

Rui Perdigão
(ESD Editor)