Dear authors,

Thank you very much for your reply. You have addressed some of the points raised by the reviewers, including the idealised set-up. I agree with the reviewer that no additional work is needed on the experiments, but more explanations on (a) the set-up and assumptions and (b) the limitations of this set-up (i.e., the effect on the results and interpretations). I am happy to consider a revised manuscript that reflects these comments. Please submit the point-by-point reply together with the revised manuscript.

Best regards,
Stefan Brönnimann

Dear authors,

Thank you for submitting the revised manuscript. You have satisfactorily addressed the reviewer comments. The assumptions and set-up are now better described and the slight re-framing of the results and conclusions in terms of situations when DA approaches (even in this set-up) lack skill is a helpful addition to the literature. I am therefore happy to accept the paper in its present form.

best regards,
Stefan Brönnimann