• Originality & Accuracy: Submit only original work with verifiable methods and accurate results; fabrication, falsification, and undisclosed image manipulation are prohibited.
• Plagiarism & Similarity: Properly cite and quote sources. JGS recommends a similarity index of ≤ 15% (references excluded). See our Plagiarism Screening.
• Data Transparency: Provide underlying data/code on request unless restricted by ethics or law; include a Data Availability statement. Consider depositing to Crossref, PANGAEA, OSF, or domain repositories.
• Publication Integrity: No concurrent submissions; disclose prior dissemination (e.g., preprints) and secure permissions for reused content. See Copyright Notice.
• Authorship & CRediT: List only contributors with substantial roles (e.g., conceptualization, methodology, analysis, writing). Use CRediT taxonomy in the manuscript.
• Conflicts of Interest: Declare funding and relationships in a dedicated section; see the template below.
• Human Oversight of AI: AI tools may assist language or analysis only with full disclosure and human verification; see our AI Policy.
• Error Reporting: Inform the editor promptly of significant errors before/after publication for correction or retraction.

• Fair Decisions: Evaluate submissions on scholarly merit, novelty, and rigor; uphold confidentiality and independence from commercial influence.
• Reviewer Selection: Appoint qualified, unbiased reviewers; consider justified requests to exclude certain reviewers. See Peer Review Process.
• Transparency & Timeliness: Communicate decisions clearly and promptly; manage COIs through recusal when needed.

• Objective Assessment: Provide unbiased, evidence-based reviews focused on scientific quality and alignment with scope.
• Confidentiality: Treat manuscripts and data as confidential; do not use unpublished material for personal advantage.
• Timeliness & COI: Accept reviews only if deliverable on time; disclose conflicts and report suspected misconduct (plagiarism, data/image manipulation, duplicates).

• Safeguard editorial independence; ensure commercial interests do not influence decisions.
• Support COPE-aligned investigations and corrections to maintain the scholarly record.
• Ensure archiving and long-term accessibility. See Archiving Policy.

• Sensitive Coordinates: Mask or generalize precise locations for endangered habitats, cultural heritage sites, or vulnerable communities; provide centroids or coarser grids when appropriate.
• Community & Indigenous Rights: Obtain permissions and respect local/indigenous knowledge systems; include acknowledgments and data-sharing agreements where applicable.
• Permits & Environmental Safeguards: Disclose relevant permits for sampling, drone/UAV flights, seismic surveys, and protected-area access; comply with national/local regulations.
• Remote Sensing & Licensing: Use legally obtained imagery (e.g., Landsat, Copernicus Sentinel); state license, acquisition dates, and processing levels.
• Geophysics Data Standards: Where feasible, provide raw/processed files in standard formats (e.g., SEG-Y, SEG-D) with metadata (geometry, sampling, filters) and uncertainty reporting.

• Human Studies: IRB/ethics approval and informed consent; follow the Declaration of Helsinki.
• Animal Studies: Follow ARRIVE and the 3Rs; include protocol approvals.
• Fieldwork: State permits and safety protocols; minimize environmental footprint and rehabilitate sampling sites where required.

• Present images, maps, and figures faithfully; do not add/remove features that could mislead.
• Report processing steps (filtering, contrast, resampling) for geophysical/remote-sensing imagery; include scale bars and color legends.
• Provide datum/projection for geo-referenced data; report uncertainties and resolution.
• On request, provide originals (e.g., raw seismic traces, unprocessed satellite scenes, original photos).

AI may assist language polishing or analysis with full disclosure and human verification; AI is not an author. See the dedicated AI Policy.

Secure permissions for materials not in the public domain (figures, tables, maps, lengthy quotes) and provide proper citation/acknowledgment. Keep documentation and supply it upon request.

• Do not submit substantially overlapping work already published or under review elsewhere.
• “Salami slicing” is unacceptable unless clearly justified and cross-referenced; secondary analyses must add distinct value.

JGS follows COPE flowcharts to investigate allegations (plagiarism, image/data manipulation, authorship disputes, undisclosed COIs). Actions may include clarification, revision, rejection, expressions of concern, retraction, notification to institutions/funders, and temporary submission bans.

• Corrections: For errors affecting interpretation but not overall validity.
• Expressions of Concern: When credible issues require investigation.
• Retractions: For proven misconduct or pervasive errors; notices remain linked to the original article.

To appeal an editorial decision or file a complaint, contact the Editorial Office: [replace-with-editor-email]. Provide a reasoned rebuttal with evidence. JGS commits to impartial review and, when appropriate, escalation to the publisher or relevant bodies.

Useful Links

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
• COPE Flowcharts — Misconduct Handling
• Declaration of Helsinki
• ARRIVE Guidelines (Animal Research)  |  The 3Rs
• CRediT Taxonomy (Contributor Roles)
• PANGAEA  |  Crossref  |  Open Science Framework (OSF)
• Copernicus Open Access Hub (Sentinel)  |  Landsat Data Access
• JGS Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
• Open Access Statement (JGS)
• Repository Policy (JGS)