I have carefully read the revised manuscript and the authors' responses to the previous reviewers. First, I would like to commend the authors on presenting a highly valuable and interesting dataset. Long-term, high-frequency mooring observations of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) are rare. The manuscript has been improved during the revision process (at least on 25th May); however, I believe there are still a few critical points that need to be addressed to further strengthen the scientific validity and depth of the discussion.

Below are my major comments, which build upon and extend some of the concerns raised in the previous review round.

1. Quantitative Comparison with CMEMS Data (Related to the general validation of reanalysis data and Reviewer 2's concerns regarding analytical rigor)

In the revised manuscript, the authors added T-S scatter plots using CMEMS data (Figure 7d-f) to validate its consistency with the in-situ observations. While this is a good addition to demonstrate qualitative agreement (e.g., the positive correlation between SLA and temperature/salinity), it currently lacks a quantitative comparison of the variation amplitudes. For instance, the mooring at M2 observed large salinity fluctuations (e.g., a standard deviation of 0.7 psu). The authors should quantitatively discuss how well the CMEMS data reproduces the actual magnitude of these variations. Comparing the amplitude or variance between the observations and the CMEMS data would provide a more rigorous justification for using the reanalysis data to explain the physical mechanisms in Section 4.3.



2. 3D Structure of Eddies and Phase Relationships using CMEMS Data (Directly related to Reviewer 1's comment on 3D lens-shaped structures and Reviewer 3's comment on using phase relationships to distinguish mechanisms)

In response to Reviewer 1 (regarding 3D eddy structures) and Reviewer 3 (who perceptively asked if "phase relationships" could help distinguish between vertical displacement and horizontal advection/mixing), the authors stated that their 1D mooring observations limit such 3D or quantitative separations. While this is true for the mooring data alone, the authors incorporate 3D CMEMS reanalysis data in Section 4.3, meaning this limitation no longer fully applies. Currently, Figures 12-14 only show 2D horizontal composite maps at specific depth ranges. To convincingly demonstrate the structural modulation by eddies, the authors should utilize the 3D nature of the CMEMS data to present vertical cross-sections (zonal and/or meridional composites) across the eddy center. Furthermore, by investigating the time lags relative to the SSHA peaks (e.g., creating cross-sectional composites before, during, and after the passage of SSHA peaks), the authors could effectively examine the phase differences between isopycnal heaving and the lateral intrusion of high-salinity waters. Addressing this would directly answer Reviewer 3's excellent point and allow for a much more conclusive, quantitative discussion on the mechanisms driving the anomalies at different sites.

3. Implications of Non-overlapping Observation Periods (A crucial point largely overlooked in the previous review round) The observation periods for the three moorings do not overlap: M3 (2016-2017), M1 (2017-2018), and M2 (2019-2020).

The manuscript currently attributes the differences in NPIW variability among the sites entirely to spatial heterogeneity (i.e., open ocean vs. western boundary). However, because the measurements were taken in completely different years, there is a strong possibility that interannual variability (e.g., different climate phases, background hydrographic shifts, or year-to-year differences in regional eddy kinetic energy) also contributes to the observed differences. While this does not negate the study's general findings regarding the eddy-induced modulation, the potential influence of interannual variability due to the asynchronous observation periods must be explicitly acknowledged and discussed in the Discussion section to ensure scientific rigor.