Dynamic Monitoring and Change Analysis of Lake Area on the Inner-Mongolian Plateau over the Past 22 Years

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors conducted multi-decadal intensive monitoring of lake area monitoring and performed comprehensive variation analysis on the Based on the Inner-Mongolian Plateau (IMP). The results showed that lake area has undergone two “U”-shaped changes, and the lake area expanded slightly in the western and southern parts, while the area shrank in the other two. The result of article is meaningful in fostering further analyses of the water cycle and the carbon cycle, however, I have only one question looking forward to any additions or answers from the author.

 

 

Is there a relationship between variation in lake volume and its size, and what kind of relationship might it be? Will the curves of variation be inconsistent between large and small lakes in response to climate change and anthropogenic perturbations?

 

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This manuscript conducted multi-decadal intensive monitoring of lake area monitoring and performed comprehensive variation analysis on the IMP, results of this study play roles in further analyses of remote sensing monitoring and water cycle. Overall, the manuscript is well-written and the methodology is rigorous. However, there are a few minor issues that require attention before the paper can be accepted for publication

1. Reductions in lake size are often accompanied by reductions in the number of lakes; have any small lakes disappeared during 1991-2018? Suggested additional characterization of changes in the number of lakes。

2. The RMSE is 4.14-11.41km², however, the area of small lakes is 1-5km², does this error affect the identification of small lakes?

3. Accuracy assessment are proposed to be placed in the results section.

4. The causes of changes in lake area are less analyzed, it is recommended to add a discussion of the influencing factors in the discussion section.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

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Comments on the Quality of English Language

Author Response

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Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

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Author Response

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