Unveiling Climate–Land Use and Land Cover Interactions on the Kerch Peninsula Using Structural Equation Modeling

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript  Unveiling Climate-LULC Interactions on the Kerch Peninsula Using Structural Equation Modeling examines the effects of climatic factors, specifically temperature and precipitation, on land use and land cover (LULC) on the Kerch Peninsula using structural equation modeling(SEM), which is a multivariate analysis technique. The manuscript is interesting to read, however, it needs substantial re-organizing and improving to be published. Here are my detailed comments:

1. The sections 1 and 2 need to be combined into an introduction. The SEM needs a better review.

2. The method section needs to detail the construction of the SEM for this paper. What are the latent variables? How many layers in the whole model structure?

3. Lines 145-150, 151-152, 170-172 need references.

4. Reference 8 needs to list all authors. 

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

We thank you for such a great job to make our article better.

We have made changes to the article and are waiting for your decision.

Thank you for your work.

 

1. The sections 1 and 2 need to be combined into an introduction. The SEM needs a better review.

Agree. The introduction and literature review sections have been merged, and some information that was previously included in both sections has been removed. Additionally, further details related to SEM have been incorporated.

2. The method section needs to detail the construction of the SEM for this paper. What are the latent variables? How many layers in the whole model structure?

Agree. The SEM model includes comprehensive descriptions of all utilized layers, accompanied by a visual representation in schematic format.

3. Lines 145-150, 151-152, 170-172 need references.

Agree. The appropriate reference to the lines has been duly incorporated. The text from lines 170 to 172 has been modified to underscore our stance on employing SEM for the investigation of interactions between climate parameters, NDVI, and LULC.

4. Reference 8 needs to list all authors. 

Agree. The reference style was modified to MDPI, which now includes all authors.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper examines the effects of specifically temperature and precipitation on land use and land cover (LULC) on the Kerch Peninsula using SEM, which have important implications for land resource management and climate adaptation strategies. The method is dependable. The conclusions are persuasive. Suggestions are as follows:

i)                 Would you please to add some explanation of method of Observation Minus Reanalysis in Line 111 of the Introducton?

ii)               This paper integrates climate data, NDVI, and LULC assessments. What part did it enhanced from compared with other methods quoted in the introduction?

iii)              There are some overlapped contents between the Introduction and Literature review.

iv)              Please give more analysis on model performance. The part of results is weaker. Explain the Table.1.

v)               The discussions on the impact of climatic factors on LULC need more climate and physical geography background of the study area. Please add them.

vi)              It would be better to show on several maps of LULC and climate in T1-T4.

vii)             The conclusions are general and fit for any areas. What’s the new findings of this research area by the method of SEM? It should be strengthen throughout the paper.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Moderate editing of English language required

Author Response

Dear Reviewer

We thank you for such a great job to make our article better.

We have made changes to the article and are waiting for your decision.

Thank you for your work.

 

1. Would you please to add some explanation of method of Observation Minus Reanalysis in Line 111 of the Introducton?

Agree. Additional information regarding the Observation Minus Reanalysis method has been incorporated into the introduction section.

2. This paper integrates climate data, NDVI, and LULC assessments. What part did it enhanced from compared with other methods quoted in the introduction?

Agree. We have incorporated additional clarification regarding the advantages of the proposed methodology at the conclusion of the introductory section.

3. There are some overlapped contents between the Introduction and Literature review.

Agree. The introduction and literature review sections have been merged, and some information that was previously included in both sections has been removed. Additionally, further details related to SEM have been incorporated.

4. Please give more analysis on model performance. The part of results is weaker. Explain the Table.1.

Agree. Additional information regarding the model's performance and results has been incorporated into the 3.3. "Models' Performance" section.

5. The discussions on the impact of climatic factors on LULC need more climate and physical geography background of the study area. Please add them.

Agree. To provide further geographic context, we have included a subchapter on the physical geographical conditions of the research area, accompanied by a map.

6. It would be better to show on several maps of LULC and climate in T1-T4.

Agree. The maps for all variables have been incorporated into the "Data Description" section.

7. The conclusions are general and fit for any areas. What’s the new findings of this research area by the method of SEM? It should be strengthen throughout the paper.

Agree. We have revised our conclusion to include additional details regarding the specific findings we have obtained in the Kerch Peninsula.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have modified the manuscript to meet my previous recommendations.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors The manuscript has been sufficiently improved to be published in Climate.