Summary

Cao et al. describe a new database of modern lake sediment pollen samples from the central and eastern Tibetan Plateau. Additionally, the authors utilize two statistical analytical metrics, weighted-averaging partial squares and random forest, in order to determine the climatic controls to pollen distribution. Additional attention is needed in small but key areas including, minor clarifications within the methodology and overall MS structure. Beyond these minor changes, this paper and accompanying dataset will compliment existing pollen datasets on the Tibetan Plateau as well as provide useful data for paleoclimate studies moving forward.  

Main Comments (Manuscript)

Some of the methodology is insufficient. While I can understand the necessity of road access, I would be interested to see wether a GoogleEarth or similar initial scouting of the area would produce a more even distribution of sample sites. Additionally, there is mention of long-distance pollen transport within the data description section (lines 173-176). However, no explanation how this is determined is given. You mentioned that bodies of water directly connected to rivers were avoided but did not go further. Please clarify this assertion. Within the methodology section, there is no discussion regarding sources of error (sampling, etc.) or how they are treated. Please clarify. 

Next, it would make the MS easier to read if subsection “3.3 Data Description” were its own section (e.g., 4 Results). Finally, while overall the use of english is good, there are minor yet reoccurring instances of run on sentences that should be addressed.

Main Comments (Data)

The database is easily accessed and downloaded. The database itself is a two page Excel file that clearly presents the individual counts of pollen as well as their overall percentage at each site. Providing both counts and percentages is a good touch. However, adding errors to the sample meta data (Elevation, Mtco, Mtwa, Taa, and Pann) would be useful for future users of the dataset.

Minor comments

line 154: Appendix 2 does not exist, it seems to be referencing Appendix B, please clarify.

Please double check section numbering once structure is fixed.

Figures:

Figure 1) Please provide rain fall scale for isohyet map. Make ‘a’ and ‘b’ more clearly visible. Also Line 67 references Figure 1, but Figure 1 does not have relevance to elevation discussion in this sentence. A 3^rd subfigure in Figure 1 with elevation of the region would help.

Figure 2) The choice of colors within the figure are not clear, please explain in figure caption.

Journal Requirements 

Manuscript

Data/methodology new: data yes, methodology not new, but appropriate.

Potential for reuse: Yes, this dataset expands geographic coverage of previously published datasets. 

Methods described in sufficient detail: No, please see comments above.

References appropriate: Yes 

Structure: Could be improved, please see above.

Data Quality

Accessible: Yes

Complete: Yes

Error estimates and sources of error discussed: No, see comments above. 

Are methods/data processing state of the art: Yes

Dataset useful and significant: data is useful and closes a geographic gap in

previously published data.

Article and Dataset

Inconsistencies, problems, errors: No 

Ease of Use: Yes

High quality data: Yes

Presentation quality 

Data usable in current format and size: Yes

Metadata appropriate: Yes