Dear Dr. Liu

Thanks for submitting your paper to Biogeosciences. Both referees are enthusiastic about eventual publication but identified some need for revision. Based on your responses, I anticipate that a revised version will likely be acceptable for publication. Besides the points highlighted in the reviews and your responses, I advise you to go through the manuscript again to improve the clarity of presentation.
I am looking forward receiving a revised paper.

With best regards, Jack Middelburg, Associate Editor Biogeosciences

Dear Dr. Liu:

Thank you for submitting the revised version that incorporates the essential feedback from the referees. I have read the materials and I am happy to inform you that your paper is now accepted for publication in Biogeosciences. However, while reading I identified a few minor issues that can be corrected while uploading the final version for print. These are listed below.

With best regards, Jack Middelburg, Associate Editor Biogeosciences

Line 2 and also 29 : stable carbon isotopic composition (d13C), that is add brackets.

Line 71/72: is ‘too’ missing?

Liine 91/92: Martin et al. reported an empirical power law and it is interpreted as reflecting linearly increasing settling velocities. As formulated it is rather cryptic. But I leave it upto you.

Line 99: consider rewriting diagenetical burial layer to “one layer containing..” or to “a sediment layer containing only solid sediment components and representing burial”.

Line 268: Do you need This is because? Start sentence with Although

Line 477: Replace On the other hand with However/in contrast because on the one and on the other always go together.

Line 603: I suggest removing the sentence “ However, for the last glacial… is not likely”. Or do you have a reference for this. Many paleoceanographers might not agree (because of documented difference in macro and micronutrients). If you delete, then start next sentence with Our 13C module.