Soil Water Erosion and Its Hydrodynamic Characteristics in Degraded Bald Patches of Alpine Meadows in the Yellow River Source Area, Western China
, Guorong Li 1,2,*, Xilai Li 3,4, Jinfang Li 1, Hui Zhai 1, Jianyun Zhao 1,2, Haili Zhu 1,2, Yabin Liu 1,2, Wenting Chen 1 and Xiasong Hu 1,2Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In abstract, it has been mentioned that "It is tentatively judged that the Reynolds number is the best hydrodynamic parameter to characterize soil erosion. The study's results will provide a theoretical basis for evaluating the mechanism of hydraulic erosion of degraded meadows in the Yellow". Now authors have clearly spelled out its main significance is of theoretical implication, what about its practical utility. Please explain the practical usage of the results of the study. Because the soil erosion and hydrodynamic characteristics are important properties having great practical significance especially in alpine hilly challenged ecosystem.
Please concise the abstract, it is more than the permissible word limit. Please make it brief with highlighting the importance its hypothesis and important findings.
The vegetation cover were studied as their impact on soil erosion, while it is well established fact more will be the vegetation, higher will be the soil resilience. Please also explain the uniqueness of the study.
It has been mentioned as reference of the study from Sun, J.M.; Fan, D.X.; Yu, in Hydrology Research, 2018, 49(2) : 506-516 (44th reference ) that The Reynolds number is the best hydrodynamic parameter 99 to characterize soil erosion [44]. And this was also finding from the study. Please distinguished what was the special outcome of the study. Why it was not a routine study.
In Figure 2. (a)healthy meadow; (b) degenerated bald patches; (c) zokor mound; (d) surface character- 145 istics of zokor mounds in the vegetation succession stage, also mention the latitude and longitude of the system.
In line 2018-258 , please also mention the source of different derivations eg. Data testing and analysis equation 1-7
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
There are minor corrections which are required for improvement of English of the manuscript. In general the authors have taken care for preparing a quality manuscript language wise.
in the line 96, the sentence like " As slopes is a crucial 96 topographic factor affecting sand production and transport, Sun et al. proposed that the 97 Reynolds number increases with slope, and runoff resistance decreases with slope when" is incorrect, please improve these miner mistake in the manuscript.
Though discussion part is nicely written, still there is good scope for its improvement. Also need to keep salient pints in the conclusion with clear unique finding of the study.
Author Response
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Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have addressed a very critical issue in the study entitled; "Soil water erosion and its hydrodynamic characteristics in degraded bald patches of alpine meadows in the Yellow River source area, western China" submitted to the sustainability. Although the manuscript contains good information but there are some flaws that may be addressed by the authors to ensure the validation of study and outcomes. For details, please find the attachment.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Throughout the manuscript, language improvement looks necessary.
Author Response
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Reviewer 3 Report
This work is very interesting. It was conducted on fragments of natural alpine meadows. Thanks to the good organisation of the experiment, the authors obtained reliable results. The results have been statistically analysed and are clearly presented in the paper. I have only a few comments: :
Abstract: There is no specific research result as to what was achieved. Please complete it.
Keyword: avoid words derived from the title of the work
Give the photos of Kobresia humilis, Kobresia. Capillifolia 132
and Kobresia. Pygmaea (with flowers)
Information on soil types? What kind of soil developed there (according the WRB)?
Could you give the physical properties of the soil?
The conclusion should be shortened and stated in bullet points.
Minor editing is needed.
Author Response
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