PCLM-D-23-00268

What is a Heat Wave: A Survey and Literature Synthesis of Heat Wave Definitions across the United States

PLOS Climate

Dear Dr. Bunting,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS Climate. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS Climate’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

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Academic Editor

PLOS Climate

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Additional Editor Comments (if provided):

I suggest the author to provide the minor revision suggested by rev#1

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Comments to the Author

1. Does this manuscript meet PLOS Climate’s publication criteria? Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions? The manuscript must describe methodologically and ethically rigorous research with conclusions that are appropriately drawn based on the data presented.

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: I don't know

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

Please use the space provided to explain your answers to the questions above. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. (Please upload your review as an attachment if it exceeds 20,000 characters)

Reviewer #1: I agree with the authros that a formal heat wave definition is important because so far there are different definitions. From an atmospheric point of view, a heat wave is well defined (even if in various ways, but considering atmospheric variables and the duration of certain conditions, it has been possible to define it). The problem is to find a definition based on the health effects on the population. This work attempts to fill this gap and the information they have collected through a survey, analysed statistically. I think it is ready to be published I only have a few minor revisions to suggest.

MINOR REVISION

In Introduction: add the heat wave definition of World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Line 137 ‘people fully completed the survey, whereas 25 individuals partially completed 166 the survey’: I think this is a result as in fact it is reported. I would delete it from here

Figure 3 : add a) b) and c) in the figure

Figure 4 : add a) and B) in the figure

Reviewer #2: 1) Regarding the answer to question (2) "2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?", I am not in a position to know the details of the statistical processing and specifically the Qualtrics and R packages.

2) Heat waves are regarded by the U.S. National Weather Service as a major, in fact leading, cause of weather-related fatalities in the U.S. in most years (Robinson 2001). Heat waves are the last extreme weather events without a formal, on the books, definition. Instead, across the U.S. those working on extreme heat event management, forecasting, and planning are each using differing definitions in their work. With such differing definitions being used there are widespread impacts including some to human and environmental health, natural resource management, and long-term emergency management planning. Based on the analysis performed in this manuscript, it can be concluded that the findings of this research can help the emergency managers and climatologists, those who face or plan for such events more often, the definition of heat events through literature review and extensive research in the United States.

3) The paper is interesting and provides a detailed analysis through a short 11-questions survey and subsequent text mining, according to which, widespread variability in the common heat wave definitions is found, but a consistent pattern of core key term usage including aspects of heat duration, extreme temperature, and humidity. Also found is little to no use of non-climatic variables such as exposure, vulnerability, population and land cover/land use.

4) The section "Conclusions" is missing. Please note that this section is not mandatory, but could be added to the manuscript to facilitate the reader.

5) This publication establishes a foundation for further research.

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Reviewer #1: Yes: Marianna Nardino

Reviewer #2: Yes: Aristeidis Mertzanis,

Professor,

Department of Agribusiness and Supply Chain Management, School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, Thiva, Greece

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What is a Heat Wave: A Survey and Literature Synthesis of Heat Wave Definitions across the United States

PCLM-D-23-00268R1

Dear Dr. Bunting,

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript 'What is a Heat Wave: A Survey and Literature Synthesis of Heat Wave Definitions across the United States' has been provisionally accepted for publication in PLOS Climate.

Before your manuscript can be formally accepted you will need to complete some formatting changes, which you will receive in a follow-up email from a member of our team. 

Please note that your manuscript will not be scheduled for publication until you have made the required changes, so a swift response is appreciated.

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Thank you again for supporting Open Access publishing; we are looking forward to publishing your work in PLOS Climate.

Best regards,

Teodoro Georgiadis

Academic Editor

PLOS Climate

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The authors have provided the proper answers to the reviewers' comments.

It is also possible to note they have added and revised a few critical points convincingly adding further information that improved convincingly the manuscript.

I strongly suggest it for publication in the present version.

Reviewer Comments (if any, and for reference):