Dear Dr Abakumov ,
Sorry for the late response, it has been difficult to find reviewers with a strong expertise in these topics.

I am happy to send you their reports, which are very positive.
It will be easy for you to implement the changes.

Best regards,

Marc Oliva

Dear Dr Abakumov,
The manuscript is almost ready for its final publication.
Just some minor issues to be solved before proceeding for publication.
Best regards,

Marc Oliva


l. 46 continuous and discontinuous permafrost result in the stabilization of essential…
Is it really continuous/discontinuous…) or active layer dynamics that drives these processes?

l. 129 be careful, what is the meaning of an average altitude in the area?
Fildes consists of two main plateaus separated by a lower relief. I don’t understand why you indicate the mean altitude of the ice-free area. It is not representative of the region.

l. 130 citation style…
According to Smellie et al. (2014)…

l. 135 Last Glacial Maximum

l. 136 this is not true. The onset of deglaciation started as in many other areas in the SSI by 8000-9000 ka and spread during the mid Holocene. Check Oliva et al (2016) in Geomorphology, from Byers, and references about other areas in the SSI therein.
Oliva, M.; Antoniades, D.; Giralt, S.; Granados, I.; Pla-Rabes, S; Toro, M.; Sanjurjo, J.; Liu, E.J. & Vieira, G. (2016). The Holocene deglaciation of the Byers Peninsula (Livingston Island, Antarctica) based on the dating of lake sedimentary records. Geomorphology, 261: 89-102.

Or this one from another area in King George (in Spanish).

Oliva, M.; Antoniades, D.; Giralt, S.; Granados, I.; Pla-Rabes, S; Toro, M.; Liu, E.J. & Sanjurjo, J. (2016). La deglaciación de las áreas libres de hielo de las islas Shetland del Sur (Antártida). Ejemplos de Byers (Livingston) y Barton (King George). Cuaternario y Geomorfología, 30 (1-2), 105-118.

l. 137 again, be careful with these dates.
The pattern ground does not date from this time. Some features reported ages of xxx to xx (mention always from older to younger!!!), which is not the same.


Results and Discussion
I would reinforce the Discussion with other studies on soils carried out in the SSI, some of them are not cites in the text. Are soils similar/different and are affected by similar/different processes?

González-Guzmán, A.; Oliva, M.; Ruiz-Fernández, J.; Pérez-Alberti, A.; de Souza, V.S. & Otero, X.L. (2017). Biota and geomorphic processes as key environmental factors controlling soil formation at Elephant Point, Antarctica. Geoderma, 300: 32-43.
Moura PA, Francelino MR, Schaefer C, Simas F and de Mendonça B (2012) Distribution and characterization of soils and landform relationships in Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica. Geomorphology 155–156: 45–54.
Navas, A.; Oliva, M.; Ruiz-Fernández, J.; Gaspar, L.; Quijano, L. & Lizaga, I. (2017). Radionuclides and soil properties as indicators of glacier retreat in a recently deglaciated permafrost environment of the Maritime Antarctica. Science of the Total Environment, 609: 192-204.
Otero, X.L., Fernández, S., de Pablo Hernandez, M.A., Nizoli, E.C., Quesada, A., 2013. Plant communities as a key factor in biogeochemical processes involving micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Co, and Cu) in Antarctic soils (Byers Peninsula, maritime Antarctica). Geoderma 195, 145–154.

Dear colleagues,

I am very pleased to formally accept your manuscript for publication in Solid Earth. The Topical Editor Marc Oliva has worked hard to bring your manuscript to this stage.
I hope that your experience with Solid Earth is throughout positive and please consider the journal again to publish results of your current and future research.

Best wishes,
Elias Samankassou
Executive Editor