Influence of Rainfall Pattern on Wetness Index for Infinite Slope Stability Analysis
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
I think that the manuscript is very interesting. However, the topic about influence of rainfall patterns on slope instability is not new, but it was previously analysed in literature.
For example, De Luca and Versace (2017) proposed a generalized empirical/hydrological model that provides a mobility function from the real pattern of rainfall data.
I suggest that authors could enrich the introduction part, by introducing the classification in empirical/hydrological models and physically based models (like the infinite slope approach), and then by mentioned the above aspect.
Moreover, all the plots in Figure 4 should have the same scale on the vertical axis, for a better comparison in terms of rainfall distribution along the time,
Suggested reference:
De Luca D.L.; Versace P. (2017). A comprehensive framework for empirical modeling of landslides induced by rainfall: the Generalized FLaIR Model (GFM). Landslides, 14(3): 1009-1030, ISSN: 1612-5118, DOI: 10.1007/s10346-016-0768-5 (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10346-016-0768-5)
Author Response
Thanks for the valuable comments.
Please find the attached file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Authors,
in the scientific literature, many papers highlight the effect of design hyetographs on slope stability (e.g. Paolo D'Odorico, Sergio Fagherazzi, Riccardo Rigon (2005) - Potential for landsliding: Dependence on hyetograph characteristics) or peak hydrographs generation for flood events (e.g. Lorenzo Alfieri, Francesco Laio and Pierluigi Claps (2008) - A simulation experiment for optimal design hyetograph selection). Your paper introduces the concept of the dependency of the Wetnex Index linked to the rainfall pattern, considering that this Index is somehow a proxy of slope instability (FoS<1). However, in my opinion, this is not a significant element of novelty. The paper does not contribute to understanding the effect of rainfall on hydrological soil hillslope, or in which way it is responsible for the decreasing of the factor of safety.
Moreover, citations are not in the style of the journal.
English is fine.
Author Response
Thanks for the valuable comments.
Please find the attached file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Despite there is not enought novelty in this work, I found well this work at the present form.
Author Response
Thanks for the valuable comments.
Please find the attached file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Please, change the references using the correct format of Water MDPI journal (i.e. numer in brackets instead of the Author of cited paper)
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
We have modified the citation style (number in brackets) according to the format of Water MDPI journal.
Thanks for all your valuable comments.