Articles | Volume 13, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-1307-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
An extrapolation algorithm for estimating river bed grain size distributions across basins
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- Final revised paper (published on 18 Dec 2025)
- Preprint (discussion started on 12 Jun 2025)
Interactive discussion
Status: closed
Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor
| : Report abuse
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RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1848', James Gearon, 26 Jun 2025
- AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Jordan Gilbert, 02 Oct 2025
- CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1848', Christopher Hackney, 14 Aug 2025
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RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-1848', Christopher Hackney, 05 Sep 2025
- AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Jordan Gilbert, 02 Oct 2025
Peer review completion
AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
AR by Jordan Gilbert on behalf of the Authors (07 Oct 2025)
Author's response
Author's tracked changes
Manuscript
ED: Publish as is (08 Oct 2025) by Sagy Cohen
ED: Publish as is (08 Oct 2025) by Wolfgang Schwanghart (Editor)
AR by Jordan Gilbert on behalf of the Authors (13 Oct 2025)
This is a well-conceived and valuable contribution. The presented algorithm offers an accessible, reproducible method for extrapolating grain size distributions (GSDs) across drainage networks, filling a clear gap in current practice where most models estimate only D50. The integration with GIS and the provision of open code and data enhance the tool’s practical value. I commend the author for these contributions and the well-presented Github repo.
That said, I have a few suggestions that would improve clarity, reproducibility, and usability:
1. The paper reports prediction errors as % Phi error. While Phi is a valid log-transformed scale, it may prove somewhat non-intuitive for many readers. I recommend instead reporting errors in standard SI units (mm), possibly after logging the metric values directly if distribution normalization is desired. Additionally, adopting standard error metrics such as mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE), and perhaps P90 or maximum error would increase accessibility and transparency. The % Phi column in Table 1 essentially functions like MAPE, calling it that would improve clarity.
2. Given that the algorithm is the central contribution of the paper, a schematic diagram or flowchart would be highly beneficial. As it stands, readers must follow a relatively dense procedural description scattered over multiple subsections. A visual overview or, at minimum, pseudocode, would make the methodology more traceable and help others implement or adapt the tool.
3. The discussion could benefit from addressing a few key interpretive points:
- Error structure: Do model errors appear heteroscedastic (e.g., increasing with D84 or grain size range)? This would have implications for application and confidence bounds.
- Model boundaries: Are there identifiable thresholds where the model performs poorly (e.g., very low slopes)? Even a soft guideline would help users avoid misapplication.
Minor comment:
Please ensure north is indicated on mapview images (Fig. 6) and add lat lon values to the captions of all images of sampling sites.