We have now received the comments from two reviewers. They both agree that the work is interesting and of potential interest to the HESS audience, but they also have some concerns that need to be addressed in a revised manuscript.

Reviewer #1 has identified the need to narrow and focus the conclusions that are currently too broad given the scope of the analysis. In the response letters, the authors have positively indicated that this issue will be carefully addressed. Reviewer #2 has indicated the need to clarify some aspects of the analysis, particularly the correlation between sap velocity and NDVI, and possible implications of saturation effects). Please include appropriate details and discussions addressing the reviewer’s comments, in the revised manuscript. Addressing all comments will help to further improve the manuscript.

The authors have carefully addressed all comments. Therefore the revised manuscript is now ready for publication.