Dear Dr. Kuhn-Régnier,
thank you for providing detailed author responses to the reviews. I have a few detailed remarks:
1. Several reviewers raised concern or demanded more explanation wrt your gap-filling approach. Pls. include your explanation - your response to RC3, pt. 1 - on filling data gaps to the methods section. In your argumentation you refer to these gaps occurring only in winter. This assumes cloud cover only affecting detection during the rainy season in subtropical and tropical areas, if I understood correctly. Please explain accordingly in the methods section to be clear to all readers.
2. Please explain clearly in your next author response how you address the RC2 critique on structural dependencies being inherent to your data and the critique on the use of CV. Please explain how you have addressed both concerns in your revised manuscript. Your current explanation needs to be extended and also considered in the manuscript.
3. RC2 on SWI gap-filling: please integrate your response in the methods section.
4. I agree with including Fig. 6 in the main text.
5. Please add information and explanation regarding the test of why 15 predictor variables were included in the analysis in the methods section.
6. Wrt to all other comments raised by the reviewers: please implemented all announced changes to the revised manuscript.

Best wishes,
Kirsten Thonicke.

Please implement the changes as stated above in the AE report.