Increasing Historical Tropical Cyclone-Induced Extreme Wave Heights in the Northern East China Sea during 1979 to 2018
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The MS aims to analyse the historical change in the TC-induced extreme wind wave in the northern East China Sea over the period 1979-2018. Overall, the study is potentially of interest for the readers of RS. However, there are some findings in the paper that need further explanation and clarification and, in its present form, it would be hard to develop any broad conclusions based on the results. As a consequence, a number of changes along the concerns proposed below are required before this MS can be properly considered for journal publication.
Concern #1
Figure 2. If as "occurrence year" (Fig. 2a) you intend the number of TC observed in the investigated time-interval (1979-2018), it seems that for the case of "occurrence month" (Fig. 2b) you are considering the percentage of occurrence instead of the number of TC. Please, clarify.
Concern #2
The validation of the coupled SWAN+ADCIRC model has been carried out through comparisons with in-situ buoy measurements. It would be interesting to add details on buoy characteristics (location, source of data, length of time series).
Concern #3
The Authors adopt a trend analysis based on the application of trend lines to evaluate the H_90, U_90 and TC_duration behaviour varying in time. The results obtained by such a simple method are not sufficiently reliable. In order to achieve more consistent estimates of the investigated variables, it could be useful to compare these results with those obtained by adopting different (refined) trend detection analysis techniques (e.g. in the last decade, some approaches based on the scaling analysis for the characterization (and quantification) of long-term variability of physical quantities in space and time have been proposed coping with environmental hydraulics problems).
Concern #4
A general revision of English presentation is suggested.
Author Response
Thank you for the comments. We have responded to all the comment on a point-by-point basis.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper presents the results of a modeling study using a coupled SWAN/ADCIRC model of tropical cyclone-induced waves in the northern East China Sea. The model attempts to explain trends seen in the maximum wave heights (H90) observed in buoy data over the study period (1979-2018). The authors conclude that H90 has increased since 1979 and is most likely due to the increase in maximum wind speed (U90), and therefore tropical cyclone intensity, over this time period.
Overall, I thought this was a clearly written paper. Using a SWAN/ADCIRC model is standard when modeling wave heights in coastal regions. The authors also clearly explained their modeling choices (e.g. using the Holland parametric model). The results seem robust: an increase in maximum wind speed from tropical cyclones leads to an increase in maximum wave heights. This is also a societally relevant conclusion because mitigation strategies that address damage to coastal infrastructure from TC-induced waves need to account for the change in maximum wave heights through time.
There is one major flaw that needs to be addressed before publication. In several places in section 3.3, the phrase “Error! Reference source not found” appears in place of an equation number. This makes it difficult for the reader to follow the derivation of the wind speed and wave height relationship.
Please see additional notes at the bottom of this review. Overall, I enjoyed reading this paper and I think it will be of interest to a wide audience.
Line-specific edits
Line 7: Capitalize “oceanology.” Also, should that be “Oceanography”?
Line 20: Change “Tropical cyclone (TC)-induced wind wave is…” to “Tropical cyclone (TC)-induced wind waves are…”
Line 20: Change “…coastal safety, quantifying…” to “…coastal safety, therefore quantifying…”
Line 23: Change “…wave height…” to “…wave heights…”
Line 31: Change “…wave height…” to “wave heights…”
Line 35: No comma is needed after the word “conditions”.
Line 38-39: Change “…western North Pacific Ocean that is a region…” to “…western North Pacific Ocean, is the region…”
Line 41: Change “…continental shelf with the water depths…” to “…continental shelf with water depths…”
Line 42: Change “…and its the outer open water is called the Yellow Sea” To “…and an outer gulf called the Yellow Sea”
Line 43: Change “…separated between…” to “…separated by the…”
Line 45: Change “…the cyclone wave disaster…” to “…disasters from cyclone-induced waves…”
Line 46: It would be helpful to give this amount of money in US Dollars and/or Euros, too.
Line 62: Change “…neither types…” to “…neither type…”
Line 63: Change “…and thus, tend to underestimate extremely…” to “…and thus tend to underestimate extreme…”
Line 64: Change “[6]; Although numerical wave model is…” to “[6]. Although numerical wave models are…”
Line 69: Change “…typically referred to be the…” to “typically referred to as the…”
Line 70: Change “…TC event…” to “…TC events…”
Line 74: Change “…both is good…” to “…both in good…”
Line 76: Change “…extreme wind wave…” to “…extreme wind waves…”
Line 77: Change “TC waves data…” to “TC wave data…”
Line 91: No comma is needed.
Line 113-114: In figure 2, I counted 11 years in which more than one TC appeared and 13 years in which no TCs appeared. Please double check this.
Line 116: Change “…TCs was…” to “…TCs were…”
Line 117: Looks like there’s an error in “(GB/T 19201-2006)”. I’m guessing that should be “1920” or “1921”.
Line 126: Change “…under the TC condition [27,28]. Wind wave…” to “…under TC conditions [27,28]. Wind waves…”
Line 179: Please define “SWH” (significant wave height?).
Lines 188-189: I’m not sure what this sentence is trying to say. Based on the following sentence, I think you’re trying to say where the maximum wave heights and wind speeds are found for TC_T1.
Line 215: Change “All the three…” to “All three…”
Line 242: Please insert the correct equation number to replace “Error! Reference source not found”
Line 244: Same as above.
Line 248: Same as above.
Line 250: Same as above.
Figure 6: The red circles and error bars were not defined in the figure caption or text. Please state what these are. Also, if possible, please choose a color other than red for these symbols. Color-blind readers will not be able to see them against the green dots.
Line 257: Change “…wind wave…” to “…wind waves…”
Line 269: Change “Despite of these differences…” to “Despite these differences…”
Line 270: Change “…significant increase trends…” to “…significant increasing trends…”
Line 272: Change “…wave height…” to “…wave heights…”
Author Response
Thank you for your comments. We have made the revision following your detailed advices, they are very useful in improving the quality of the manuscript. The error phase is probably a system mistake and we have corrected them manually.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
