Simple and Two-Level Hierarchical Bayesian Approaches for Parameter Estimation with One- and Two-Layer Evapotranspiration Models of Crop Fields
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Please write the main abbreviations used at the beginning of the text, before the introduction.
In material and methods, a description of the study areas is missing. In addition to an overview of the territory, it would be useful to know the surfaces of the different areas on which the parameters were calculated. There is a classification of the lithologies of the soils but it is not clear how they are homogeneous and representative. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the calculation is done punctually or arealmente. It is recommended to supplement the text with this information and schematic map and a picture of the study site.
The paper is well written and the aim of the work clear. The section Materials and methods is detailed as well as the section of the results and discussion. The conclusion is clear and exhaustive.
The paper can be accepted in the present form, with only minor revisions.
Author Response
Point1: Please write the main abbreviations used at the beginning of the text, before the introduction.
Response 1: Thank you for noticing. I checked abbreviations without explanation in the manuscript, and we added it (Line 102-104). We might not understand well what the reviewer pointed out. If our understanding is not correct, please kindly give some specific guidance.
Point2: In material and methods, a description of the study areas is missing. In addition to an overview of the territory, it would be useful to know the surfaces of the different areas on which the parameters were calculated. There is a classification of the lithologies of the soils but it is not clear how they are homogeneous and representative. Furthermore, it is not clear whether the calculation is done punctually or arealmente. It is recommended to supplement the text with this information and schematic map and a picture of the study site.
Response 2: We added several sentences in 2.1 section and map with photos of study fields in Figure 1. But sorry, we didn’t understand the meaning of “the calculation is done punctually or arealmente”. Our observation method of ET at field is the micro-meteorological approach using micro-meteorological station with Bowen ratio energy balance method described in line 121-131 and in Figure 1b, not hydrological and plant physiological approach. If additional information is required, please kindly give specific advices.
Reviewer 2 Report
Simple and two-level hierarchical Bayesian approaches for parameter estimation with one- and two-layer evapotranspiration models of crop fields
This paper uses the HB method to consider environmental changes to improve the SW model. The parameters estimated by the corrected model fit the observed ET values better, which shows that it is potentially important to consider seasonal fluctuations and changes in crop growth stages. The research has certain guiding significance, but the following details need to be considered:
1.Line 240, what is the basis for dividing the 87-day observation period into three periods?
2.Line 274, how is the descending order of correlation of different samples obtained?
3.Line 340, why does the irrigation factor only appear in the sample SsD? What effect does this have on the sensitivity of the subsequent parameter estimates?
4.Line 367, you can list the rate of change of LAI in different periods in Figure 2.
5.In Figure 1, how to use the “30cm” and “50cm” observation data of some samples in the soil moisture content figure?
Author Response
We thank reviewer for their valuable comments to improve this manuscript. The comments have been addressed in the revised version of the manuscript as possible as we can. Following are the replies for specific comments.
Point 1: Line 240, what is the basis for dividing the 87-day observation period into three periods?
Response 1: We added the explanation in line 246-247. This is because the main growth stage of plants can be separated into three stages, vegetative, reproductive and ripening stage.
Point 2: Line 274, how is the descending order of correlation of different samples obtained?
Response 2: Since the description was insufficient, we added some words in line 281. The correlation coefficients between daily Ta and observed ET is obtained for each observation condition.
Point 3: Line 340, why does the irrigation factor only appear in the sample SsD? What effect does this have on the sensitivity of the subsequent parameter estimates?
Response 3: Only SsD was irrigated in the field crops (SsDm GnPm, SfPm) except for paddy field which the soil condition was saturated during the observation.
Irrigation water increases soil moisture contents affecting the parameters for the determination of the stomatal resistance of canopy in Equation 19 and the soil surface resistance in Equation 20.
Point 4.Line 367, you can list the rate of change of LAI in different periods in Figure 2.
Response 4: We added the change rate of LAI in manuscript line 376. We are sorry, the number of previous figure was wrong, Figure 1 was correct (this revision is Figure 2).
Point 5: In Figure 1, how to use the “30cm” and “50cm” observation data of some samples in the soil moisture content figure?
Response 5: The soil moisture content at depth of 30 cm and 50 cm is used in the estimation of wcroot (moisture content in the root zone) in Equation 19 and line 179. The crop water consumption rate for soil layer 0-10 cm, 10-30 cm, 30-50 cm were set as 40%, 30%, and 10%, respectively, and then, we estimated the averaged soil water content in the root zone using the observed soil moisture. The moisture content in root zone for paddy field was saturated, which was the same as the moisture at a depth of 5 cm.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Simple and two-level hierarchical Bayesian approaches for parameter estimation with one- and two-layer evapotranspiration models of crop fields
This paper uses the HB method to consider environmental changes to improve the SW model. The parameters estimated by the corrected model fit the observed ET values better, which shows that it is potentially important to consider seasonal fluctuations and changes in crop growth stages. The research has certain guiding significance, but the following details need to be considered:
1.Line 240, what is the basis for dividing the 87-day observation period into three periods?
2.Line 274, how is the descending order of correlation of different samples obtained?
3.Line 340, why does the irrigation factor only appear in the sample SsD? What effect does this have on the sensitivity of the subsequent parameter estimates?
4.Line 367, you can list the rate of change of LAI in different periods in Figure 2.
5.In Figure 1, how to use the “30cm” and “50cm” observation data of some samples in the soil moisture content figure?
Author Response
English language and style are fine/minor spell check required.
Response1: Thank you for your comments.
We have rechecked and corrected English in our manuscript. Please kindly check the revision.
Round 3
Reviewer 2 Report
accept
