This study uses a regional atmospheric circulation model driven by RS albedo and vegetation characteristics to investigates the relative impacts in time and space of dynamics in vegetation and albedo on simulated climate and precipitation during the Millennium drought in Australia.

Both reviewers are positive about the study and the insights it may provide and find the paper well written. However, both ask for more mechanistic underpinning of the authors. In the replies to the reviews the authors have shown that they are able to supply such underpinning. I therefore recommend that the paper be revised according to the suggestions of the reviewers and the authors and be subject to one more round of reviews to ascertain that all the concerns of the reviewers have been adequately dealt with.