Review of the article entitled: “Lagrangian Characterization of Heat Waves: The Perspective Matters” by Amelie Mayer and Volkmar Wirth

General Comments

The article presents a detailed analysis of the mechanisms driving summer heat waves, comparing perspectives in the Lagrangian framework. The study is well-structured and contributes valuable insights into the field. However, several areas could benefit from further clarification, additional references, and some adjustments to the presentation of data. Below are specific comments that should be addressed to improve the manuscript.

Specific Comments

• Line 25 - Citation Addition:

Comment: The study would benefit from adding the reference Garfinkel et al. (2024) when discussing horizontal advection.

Suggested Action: Please include the following citation:

Garfinkel, C.I., Rostkier-Edelstein, D., Morin, E., Hochman, A., Schwartz, C. & Nirel, R. (2024). Precursors of summer heat waves in the Eastern Mediterranean. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 1–17. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.4795

• Line 42-43 - Use of LAGRANTO or HYSPLIT:

Comment: Is there a specific reason for not utilizing LAGRANTO or HYSPLIT in your analysis? These tools are widely used for tracking air parcels.

Suggested Action: Briefly discuss why alternatives like LAGRANTO or HYSPLIT were not considered.

• Figures 2 and 5 - Orientation Adjustment:

Comment: The current layout of Figures 2 and 5 may be challenging to interpret. I recommend changing the orientation to have the x-axis represent time.

Suggested Action: Modify the figures to have time on the x-axis, which could make the temporal patterns more apparent.

• Period of Study - Influence of Global Warming:

Comment: The period of 2010-2022, which coincides with significant global warming, might influence your results. Is there a specific reason for selecting this timeframe?

Suggested Action: Address whether the chosen period might affect the study’s conclusions, and if possible, justify the selection of this period or discuss its implications.

• Use of the Term Climatology:

Comment: The term "climatology" typically refers to a 30-year period. Using it for a 13-year dataset might not be appropriate.

Comment: Were the studied heat waves used to compute the long-term mean? Since the period is rather short, this may have influenced the results.

Suggested Action: Consider revising the terminology or discuss whether using a 30-year climatology would alter your findings.

• Typo in Figure's 14 caption:

Comment: There is a typographical error in Figure 14, where "ehating" should be corrected to "heating."

Suggested Action: Please correct this typo.

• Line 404 - Reference Addition:

Comment: It would be beneficial to add the reference to Hochman et al. (2021) when discussing the persistent definition of heat waves.

Suggested Action: Include the following reference:

Hochman et al. (2021).

• Discussion on Lagrangian and Eulerian Perspectives:

Comment: Garfinkel et al. (2024) used an Eulerian approach, whereas Röthlisberger and Papritz (2023) used a Lagrangian one, leading to slightly different conclusions about heat wave drivers. Discussing these differing perspectives could enhance your analysis.

Suggested Action: Add a discussion comparing your findings with those of Garfinkel et al. (2024) and Röthlisberger and Papritz (2023), highlighting how the Lagrangian and Eulerian perspectives reinforce or differ from each other, particularly regarding horizontal advection and diabatic warming.

• Title and Content Alignment:

Comment: The title suggests a comparison between Lagrangian and Eulerian perspectives, which the analysis does not cover explicitly.

Suggested Action: Consider revising the title to better reflect the paper's content or include a discussion or analysis comparing these two perspectives.

Conclusion

The article is well-written and interesting, but incorporating the suggested changes will enhance its clarity, depth, and alignment with current research. Addressing these comments will strengthen the manuscript and make it more compelling for publication.