Dear authors,

Thanks for your updated manuscript submission and detailed response to the reviewers' comments. You have adequately addressed their main concerns, which pertained to: (1) weak dating and associated uncertainties pertaining to the PETM and other early ETM events --> your description of the limitations of current dating constraints makes your study honest without taking away from your findings (in my opinion); (2) your description of the TOC vs d13C relationships is also much more detailed and allow for a better understanding of your interpretation; (3) the palynological aspect of your work is now brought to light in a more detailed manner, also helping with the interpretation of the record.

Overall, I recommend the publication of your manuscript, pending that a thorough proof-reading is completed by the authors to eliminate remaining typos and long convoluted sentences.