Contrasting Signals of the Westerly Index and North Atlantic Oscillation over the Drought Sensitivity of Tree-Ring Chronologies from the Mediterranean Basin

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I have one comment and small remarks incorporated into the enclosed file.

My comment is related to the ethical issue. If possible please cite the authors of the chronologies from Tree-Ring Databank. Very often our colleagues published the articles using the data and it is not difficult to find a related paper. Please think about the effort of organizing financial support, field trips, laboratory work. In my opinion "thank you" at the end of the paper is always nice but not enough.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Point1:

I have one comment and small remarks incorporated into the enclosed file.

My comment is related to the ethical issue. If possible please cite the authors of the chronologies from Tree-Ring Databank. Very often our colleagues published the articles using the data and it is not difficult to find a related paper. Please think about the effort of organizing financial support, field trips, laboratory work. In my opinion "thank you" at the end of the paper is always nice but not enough.

Response :

We thank the reviewer for the comments provided on our work, as well as for finding merit. We have addressed your comment and remarks in the new thoroughly revised version of the manuscript. We included the references for the authors of the chronologies in the main text. Thanks.

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper presents analysis of long-term  regional  drought  patterns modulated  by  atmospheric  patterns using tree -ring width data  (TRW)  in the Mediterranean mountains.  Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was used as an indicator of drought. Authors carried out study following tree species (Abies borisii-regis, Abies cilicica, Abies pinsapo, Cedrus atlantica, Cedrus libanii, Pinus nigra,  Pinus  heldreichii). In my opinion the paper is very well written and organized. Novelty of the research is evaluation  of  TRW   across  the  Mediterranean  Basin and connection with  large-scale  atmospheric  circulation  indices  (NAO,  WI)  and  drought  (SPEI)  .  All methods and statistical procedures were clearly described. Results and discussion is well presented and supported by many other studies. I recommend the acceptance of the paper in the present form.

Author Response

Point 1:

The paper presents analysis of long-term regional drought  patterns modulated  by  atmospheric  patterns using tree -ring width data  (TRW)  in the Mediterranean mountains.  Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was used as an indicator of drought. Authors carried out study following tree species (Abies borisii-regis, Abies cilicica, Abies pinsapo, Cedrus atlantica, Cedrus libanii, Pinus nigra,  Pinus  heldreichii). In my opinion the paper is very well written and organized. Novelty of the research is evaluation  of  TRW   across  the  Mediterranean  Basin and connection with  large-scale  atmospheric  circulation  indices  (NAO,  WI)  and  drought  (SPEI)  .  All methods and statistical procedures were clearly described. Results and discussion is well presented and supported by many other studies. I recommend the acceptance of the paper in the present form.

Response 1:

We thank the reviewer for the positive comments provided on our work, as well as for highlighting the strengths of the study and for finding merit and potential in it for being published.