Analysis of Climate Change Effects on Precipitation and Temperature Trends in Spain

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report (Previous Reviewer 2)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Accept in present form

Author Response

Thank you very much for your review

Reviewer 2 Report (Previous Reviewer 3)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I thank authors for their comprehensive answers, which reviewer read with great interest. The article has been greatly improved in line with of the comments.

The authors have taken into account the comments contained in review. The authors replied answers and completed the manuscript. The manuscript is clear thanks to the changes introduced. The cited literature refers to the research topic. The content of the manuscript is consistent with the profile of the journal. However, I still suggest supplementing the manuscript with:

- Figure1 – I suggest adding the source of the map,

- Figure 3 – the title should be placed under the figure,

Author Response

I thank authors for their comprehensive answers, which reviewer read with great interest. The article has been greatly improved in line with of the comments.

The authors have taken into account the comments contained in review. The authors replied answers and completed the manuscript. The manuscript is clear thanks to the changes introduced. The cited literature refers to the research topic. The content of the manuscript is consistent with the profile of the journal. However, I still suggest supplementing the manuscript with:

- Figure1 – I suggest adding the source of the map,

- Figure 3 – the title should be placed under the figure

Thanks for your suggestions. In the new draft of the article, the source of Figure 1 is included, as well as placing the title under Figure 3. Please see the result of your review highlighted in yellow in the new draft article

Reviewer 3 Report (New Reviewer)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study focuses on hot topics, trends in temperature and precipitation changes, and predicts climate zoning under future scenarios. There is a suggestion.

(1) It is necessary to state the research objectives in the abstract, but there are also other important contents. The results and findings of this study are also important, but with only a small amount of content. Suggest completely rewriting the abstract.

Author Response

This study focuses on hot topics, trends in temperature and precipitation changes, and predicts climate zoning under future scenarios. There is a suggestion.

(1) It is necessary to state the research objectives in the abstract, but there are also other important contents. The results and findings of this study are also important, but with only a small amount of content. Suggest completely rewriting the abstract.

Thank you for your feedback. The writing of the summary has been improved based on your suggestion, as well as that of Reviewer 4. 

Reviewer 4 Report (New Reviewer)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

please find below my review of the paper "Analysis of Climate Change Effects on Precipitation and Temperature Trends in Spain"

Overview

The paper analyses the observed climate change signal in Spain regarding precipitation and temperature, and also investigates these two climate variables connection in the process. The study uses the E-OBS dataset, and applies statistical methods to evaluate it. Extrapolation is used to investigate the future of precipitation and temperature values concerning 2050. The Authors also use the Köppen classification system to evaluate their findings.

The topic of the paper is relevant, the analysis is comprehensive, the text is long but well structured, and the language is clear. The figures show good quality, but the signs and legends need to be enlarged for better readability.

 

Main comments:

1) There are a lot of details presented in the paper, from what several conclusions are drawn, and many of these are already in accordance with the IPCC report. Thus, I urge the authors to sort and present the information a bit more regarding, what is new in their research, what is their added value to the already known and established conclusions from other studies.

2) I found the manuscript to be too long, with unnecessary repetitions and too much details. I suggest to the authors to work over all sections and shorten the text, the number of figures and tables. The information sorted out can be present in the supplementary material.

3) I would suggest to the authors to include, besides the extrapolation to the near future, the same results from the CMIP6 ensemble as well. Also can the authors explain why they choose the near future and not the end of the 21^st century as target for the future scenario?

4) I recommend to the authors to mention the possible physical process/explanation behind the found relation between temperature and precipitation change.

Minor comments:

Abstract: The objectives of the paper are explained twice in the abstract, which I found unnecessary.

Line 26. RR and TX are not jet introduced in the text.

Line 79. “One of the most affected” globally or in Europe?

Line 98-105 What is the new in this research compared to the papers mentioned in this paragraph? Especially in case of Rodrigo (2019)?

Discussion: Results are presented in the discussion, please analyse them in the results section and only keep the actual discussions here.

Table 13 is difficult to interpret. I suggest to use some other kind of chart, i.e. pie chart with percentages or a bar chart, to present the information detailed in paragraph  995-1005.

I think it would be worth mentioning the implications of the changes in climate classes.

Please enlarge the legends and texts on the Figures.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thank you for your review. You can see our responses in the attached PDF. Also, in the new draft, the changes introduced are in blue font.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 5 Report (New Reviewer)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please, see the attached document

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Thank you for your review. You can see our responses in the attached PDF. Also, in the new draft, the changes introduced are in red font.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

See the attached document

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Very good overall, only minor changes recommended

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper analyzed the climate change experienced in Spain between 1971 and 2022 and to estimate the future climate. However, this article looks like a report. I would suggest that the authors put some of the charts and graphs in the supplemental material, as well as shorten the body of the text. I think this paper can be published after major revisions to the following issues:

 

1. The abstract is a bit too long. It is not necessary to detail the strengths of the E-OBS dataset as well as the format in the abstract.

2. The introduction is also too long and looks like a report or a thesis. I don't think the introduction needs to separate 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3.

3. The study area in Figure 1 needs to be more prominent. It doesn't look obvious now.

4. 2.3.Methodology. It would be better if the authors give some formulas

5. Discussion section. I suggest highlighting the innovations and contributions of the research in the first paragraph of the discussion.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing of English language required.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 The reviewed manuscript is interesting for climatologists and hydrologists. It fits into the thematic area of ​​the journal. The content included in the manuscript has been divided into chapters and subchapters in an appropriate way. However, the ‘Introduction’ is too extensive – I suggest shortening it. There are many symbols/abbreviations in the manuscript, which discourages readers, so for the clarity of the text I suggest attaching a table with an explanation of the symbols used. The methodology has been presented transparently. The homogeneity of data is very important, so I suggest adding information on the homogeneity of the meteorological data used in the manuscript. In the manuscript, there can be noticed information about the increase e.g. in the number and length of heat waves (e.g. page 16 line 641-644), but it is advisable to provide its causes (I suggest enriching the manuscript also in the case of days without precipitation...). The results have been discussed, appropriate conclusions have been indicated, but the conclusions are too general. The cited literature is related to the research topic, however, the literature citation should be changed in accordance with the journal’s rules - In the manuscript cited literature should be written in accordance with the journals ’…in the text, reference numbers should be placed in square brackets [ ], and placed before the punctuation; for example [1], [1–3] or [1,3]. For embedded citations in the text with pagination, use both parentheses and brackets to indicate the reference number and page numbers; for example [5] (p. 10). or [6] (pp. 101–105)’. The results obtained are supported by tables and figures – figure / table require correction/complementation – they are not legible, there are lack of axis titles, lack of legend and some of the titles are questionable (e.g. figure 5).

 

In addition, the manuscript requires additions/clarification, including:

 Figure 1 – Is not legible

 Point 2.2 – for the clarity of the manuscript, I suggest that the cited mountains, rivers (e.g. Line 364-368, line 632, 636, ), towns be placed on figure 1

How reliable is the forecast (page 11 line 513) ‘The Sen’s slope resulting from the KTS models was used to estimate the trend between 1971 and 2022, and the projections up to 2050’

 In the manuscript has been predicted drought (page 12 line 542) – due to the drought development phases – it is necessary to indicate the drought phase (meteorological, ..., hydrological)

The adopted reference period 1971-2000 requires explanation 'This allowed us to estimate the climate in 2050 for the case study, and to analyze the changes that will occur with respect to the reference period 1971-2000’ (page 12 line 555, page 15 line 628 )

Figure 4 ‘Warming in Spain (1971–2022)’ – I suggest adding axis captions and changing the title of the figure – the current one is not clear

Figure 5 ‘Increase in TG, TX and TN (1971–2022)’ – the title is not clear, I suggest changing it, e.g. spatial distribution…, I suggest adding a legend

Figure 6. ‘Increase in summer days and tropical nights between 1971 and 2022’ – title is not clear

 Figure 7. I suggest adding a legend

 Page 16 line 641-644 ‘If we compare the first 10 years (1971–1980) with the last 10 (2013–2022) of the series, the number of DHW and NHW rose from less than one per year to almost two. Heatwaves increased in number and length: the duration of heatwaves went up from 3 to 9 days on average’ – it is necessary to adding a comment on the reasons for the increase

Figure 8 – is not legible, I suggest adding markers on the OX axis

 Page 16 line 648-649 ‘As shown, the increase in heatwaves and their duration is almost exponential’ – A comment is necessary – what does this mean, what is the reason for the dispersion of points, especially after 2010.

 Figure 9. ‘Increasing trend of HW. 1971–2022’ – title is not understandable, figure 9 also lacks of a legend

 Figure 10, figure 12 I suggest adding axis titles

 Figure 11, figure 13, figure 15, 17, 19 – I suggest adding an explanation of the legend

 Figure 14, figure 16 - is not legible, I suggest adding axis titles

 Table 6 and 7 – I suggest placing the values ​​in a table

 References must be changed according to the journal's requirements

 References – page 31 line 1147 and page 32 line 1235 – incorrect numbering has been introduced