The overall quality of this manuscript is very good. It is a well thought out study on stratigraphic successions of Cyprus Island that provides insight on the Middle-Late Miocene paleoceanographic history of the Eastern Mediterranean. The study presents a composite geochemical record of oxygen and carbon stable isotopes, precisely dated through nannofossil biostratigraphy and strontium isotope dating technique.

The scientific approach and applied methods are correct and provide a valid documentation that includes sections properly selected for sampling, based upon accurate stratigraphic analyses. This accuracy successfully helped in the reconstruction of tectonic development in the eastern Mediterranean marine basins during the Miocene. Through detailed sedimentary logs of the two chosen sections, nannofossil biochronology and strontium isotope dating the authors obtained a reliable age model with which the temporal composite 18O and 13C record is constructed, with the final aim to provide a reliable climatic and environmental reconstruction for the study area. It seems that the objective has been achieved: results and conclusions are clearly presented and complemented by a sufficient number of figures (of good quality) and tables. The abstract properly summarizes the results and the scientific substance of this study.

A marginal observation regards the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy applied in this study: besides the used reference scheme (by Backman et al., 2012), that is appropriate for providing a reliable age model, the Authors could address a more recent biostratigraphic review on nannofossil biostratigraphy in the Mediterranean [the reference is: A. Di Stefano, N. Baldassini, I. Raffi, E. Fornaciari, A. Incarbona, A. Negri, S. Bonomo, G. Villa, E. Di Stefano, D. Rio (2024). Neogene-Quaternary Mediterranean Calcareous Nannofossil Biozonation and Biochronology: a Review. Stratigraphy, 20(4): 259-302. https://doi.org/10.29041/strat.20.4.02]. Anyway, it is not a mandatory suggestion because it will not change the biochronologic results presented.

I do not have to address any other specific question on the manuscript contents, the paper provides new data in the studied area and represents an interesting contribution to the paleoenvironmental evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Torin Cannings and colleagues present a new stable C- and O-isotope data set from the island of Cyprus covering the Miocene. This data set adds new and detailed information on globally well documented changes in carbon cycling and related fluctuations in temperature during the Miocene. Their data provide additional evidence on stepwise Late Miocene closure of the Mediterranean. Closure of gateways had a major impact on  regional isotope patterns stored in studied pelagic sediments. The  authors present a bio- and chemostratigraphically well-defined age model for the pelagic sections chosen for this investigation. A good age model is essential for correlation of this new dataset with existing records from other regions of the Mediterranean and elsewhere.

I recommend publication of this manuscript in Climate of the Past after some  (minor) revisions.  

Comments and suggestions:

Structure of the manuscript.

-The authors include a rather detailed discussion of published chemostratigraphies and interpretation of these data in their introductory chapter. Some of this discussion might be more appropriately integrated in the discussion paragraph following the presentation of the data. Currently, the authors repeat parts of the introduction's summary in their discussion paragraph (e.g. the temperature trend discussion of the identification of the carbon isotope events). I recommend that the authors shift at least part of the long climate and ocean introduction (around lines 90-125, possibly also some of sentences in lines 55-60) to the discussion. This minimizes redundancies in the discussion.

-Additional references in the introduction: Cedric John et al., 2003, GSA, on Miocene climate in the Mediterranean.

-Line 117: see also impact of closure of gateway to the east on Mediterranean isotope records in Jacobs et al., 1996.

Data

310 are condensed intervals comparable to phosphorites in the central and western Mediterranean? (see Jacobs et al., hardgrounds 16.9 and 16. 1 Ma). Any evidence for changing deep current intensities?

415 onwards: stable isotope values expressed in the d-notation are not “heavier” or “lighter” but more positive/negative.

484 correct the title

From 499 onwards: Please add isotope events (Mi 3, 3a, 4, MMCT, LMCIS etc.) to your summary figure 10. This will facilitate readers comprehension of your argumentation.

519 delete “n”

525-530 > some duplication, see your introduction, lines 65-75