Author Guidelines

Instructions to Authors

Submit high-quality research in Geosciences & Geological Hazards — double-blind peer review • COPE-aligned ethics • open access.

1) Submission Guidelines

Submit original, unpublished work (not under review elsewhere) in English via the online system: Start Submission.

  • File types: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) or LaTeX (.tex). Use the official template(s) below.
  • Templates: Author Templates (JGS)
  • Scope check: ensure alignment with Focus & Scope.

2) Article Types

  • Original Research Articles — fundamental/applied studies with robust methodology and data.
  • Review Articles — critical and synthetic overviews that map the field and future directions.
  • Case Studies / Technical Notes — field insights or method advances with practical value.
  • Data/Software Notes (where applicable) — curated datasets, code, or workflows enabling reuse.

3) Manuscript Structure

  1. Title Page — article title; author names & affiliations; corresponding author email; ORCID(s) recommended.
  2. Abstract (150–250 words) and Keywords (4–6).
  3. Introduction — background, objectives, contribution.
  4. Methods — detailed, reproducible methods; instruments, parameters, statistics.
  5. Results & Discussion — findings with tables/figures; comparison to prior work; limitations.
  6. Conclusion — key takeaways; implications; future work.
  7. Data Availability — repository links (e.g., Zenodo, PANGAEA, OSF) and access terms.
  8. Acknowledgments & Funding — funders (grant no.); permits; community contributions.
  9. Author Contributions — use CRediT taxonomy.
  10. Competing Interests — disclosure statement (COI).
  11. Ethics Statements — IRB/animal approvals; field permits; consent.
  12. References — see Section 6.

Double-blind anonymization: remove author identities within the manuscript; use “Author (Year)” for self-citations where necessary; place permits/ethics in anonymized form during review.

4) Formatting Requirements

  • Font & spacing: Times New Roman, size 12, double-spaced.
  • Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides; page limit 6–15 pages (incl. references/appendices).
  • Units & notation: SI units; define symbols/abbreviations on first use.
  • Equations: use an equation editor; number consecutively (e.g., Eq. (1)).
  • Nomenclature (optional): include if many symbols/variables are used.

5) Figures, Maps, and Tables

  • Quality: 300 dpi (min) for raster; vector preferred (SVG/EPS/PDF). Use legible fonts and color legends.
  • Numbering: Figures and tables numbered sequentially with descriptive captions; cite in text.
  • Geospatial metadata: state datum/projection, resolution, acquisition dates, and processing steps for remote-sensing/geophysical data.
  • Sensitive locations: consider masking/generalizing coordinates for protected sites or vulnerable communities.
  • Third-party content: obtain permissions/licenses and acknowledge sources.
  • Supplementary files: provide raw/processed data (e.g., SEG-Y/SEG-D, shapefiles/GeoPackage, scripts) in repositories; link in Data Availability.

6) References & Citation Style

  • Use APA 7th or IEEE consistently throughout the manuscript.
  • Include only works cited in the text; add DOIs/URLs where available.
  • Manage references with Mendeley or EndNote to ensure accuracy.

7) Ethics & Required Declarations

  • Originality & plagiarism: manuscripts are checked (Turnitin/iThenticate). See Screening for Plagiarism.
  • Human/animal/fieldwork approvals: provide IRB/IACUC references and permits as applicable.
  • Data & image integrity: disclose processing steps; avoid misleading alterations.
  • CRediT roles & funding: include contributor roles and complete funding statements.
  • Competing interests: include a clear COI statement.
  • Responsible AI use: disclose any AI assistance; humans remain accountable. See AI Policy.

8) Peer Review Process

JGS uses a double-blind review model. Workflow: desk screening → assignment to ≥2 experts → revisions (as needed) → final decision.

Details: Peer Review Process.

9) Copyright & Open Access

  • JGS is an open-access journal; authors retain copyright.
  • Articles are published under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 (attribution required).
  • See: Open Access Statement & Copyright Notice.

10) Publication Fees (APC)

  • No submission fee. APC applies upon acceptance (see policy & waivers).
  • Details & waiver requests: Publication Fee.

Author Checklist (Before Submission)

  • [ ] Fits JGS Focus & Scope
  • [ ] Word template/LaTeX used; format correct
  • [ ] Abstract 150–250 words; 4–6 keywords
  • [ ] Figures 300 dpi; captions complete
  • [ ] Geospatial/geophysical metadata provided
  • [ ] Equations numbered; SI units
  • [ ] References complete (APA 7th or IEEE) with DOIs/URLs
  • [ ] Anonymized for double-blind; self-citations masked
  • [ ] Ethics approvals/permits stated (if applicable)
  • [ ] Data Availability & CRediT roles included
  • [ ] COI & Funding statements included
  • [ ] Similarity self-check done; ≤ 15% (refs excluded)