It would like to thank both, the reviewer's and the authors for all their efforts that have contributed to this highly improved revised version of the manuscript. Pending a small number of minor changes and additions, the manuscript is ready to be published in my view.

The remaining changes I would like to request are the following:

1.) I agree with the reviewer of the revised version that GMD policy indeed requires model version numbers in the title of every GMD paper. I thank the reviewer for pointing this out and apologize to the authors for not spotting it myself earlier.

2.) I concur with the reviewer's remark 3.15 to the original manuscript and the reply to the response to 3.15 in the author's response. This is a valid and important point. Furthermore, I think the reviewer's request to discuss the potential implications the global model configuration - not more than a paragraph or two is required - is quite reasonable and should be included. The author's could make reference to plans for such an evaluation and assessment study in the future. I think it is universally agreed that such a study would go well beyond the scope of this paper and for it to be useful, indeed, needs much effort and consideration and cannot be accomplished now.

3.) I would like to encourage the authors to follow the reviewer's suggestions in relation to remarks 3.2 and 3.4 and expand on their revisions along the lines indicated. I leave this to the author's discretion, however.

Finally, I would like to point out that all three reviewers have evaluated the paper with high praise and there is no question about its suitability for publication and its contribution to the field. With one last concerted effort we may be able to raise the level even one more notch.

In any case, let me express my appreciation for the professional and high quality work demonstrated by both the authors and the reviewers.

Gerd Folberth

(topical editor)

I would like to thank the authors and all reviewers for their efforts and collaboration on this manuscript. I think we have reached a level of quality of the manuscript that is indeed worth of publications.

I am therefore happy to recommend this manuscript for publication in GMD.

Gerd Folberth

(topical editor)