Dear authors:
I have read now through the detailed reviewers' comments on your manuscript and your extensive reply to their comments. Based on your comments, I think you can incorporate their recommendation and suggestions into a thoroughly revised manuscript. Please let me have your revised manuscript at your earliest convenience.
Best wishes, Gerhard Herndl

Dear authors:
I have now read through the revised manuscript and through your response to the reviewers. I find the revised manuscript has significantly benefited from addressing the reviewers' comments in the manuscript. There are, however, unfortunately still a few problems with the manuscript which I ask you to change accordingly:
1) The use of the English is a many places awkward. Since there are 2 of the authors native English-speakers I suggest that at least one of them goes thoroughly through the manuscript and amends the English.
2) salinity is, in a strict sense, a ratio and therefore without a unit. Also "psu" although frequently used in the literature is therefor wrong!
3) please spell out the abbreviations in the header of the tables, such as SSS SST, etc. Table should be self-explaining.

Please submit a thoroughly revised final version as soon as possible.
Best wishes, Gerhard Herndl

Dear authors:
I have now read through the revised version of your manuscript and found that you have adequately addressed the suggestions of the reviewers. Hence, I appreciate being able to inform you that the paper is now accepted for publication in Biogeosciences. Thanks for choosing Biogeosciences as an outlet of your interesting work.
Best wishes, Gerhard Herndl