Aims & Scope

AGU Advances rapidly publishes research -- from all fields of Earth and space sciences -- that has broad and immediate implications and that is of interest not only to researchers in these fields but also to the larger science community and to the public at large. AGU Advances differentiates itself from other highly selective journals by being fully open access: available for all to download, read, and share.

AGU Advances publishes novel, innovative research in the form of approximately 150 full-length papers each year. All papers are enriched by plain-language summaries and Editor’s Highlights and are often accompanied by Viewpoint commentaries aimed at explaining and elaborating the research to a wide audience. Manuscript preparation guidelines (applicable to all journals) can be found here.

Journal Overview

Content types

AGU Advances publishes the following: 

• Research Articles
• Research Articles present fully developed analysis and discussion of scientific topics within the scope of the journal. They are expected to present new theories and novel concepts. The results should provide a significant advance that will have impact within a discipline, across multiple disciplines, or to public understanding of science, potentially even to public policy. These manuscripts are handled by the editorial staff of the journal and are typically sent to multiple reviewers.
  Research Articles have no limit on length, but clarity and conciseness of presentation are encouraged, to ensure rapid and effective publication.
• Viewpoints 
• Viewpoints offer context for Research Articles and are published concurrently with them. These articles give background on the field and explain outstanding questions or controversies, along with what the future may hold, especially as influenced by the newly published results. Viewpoints are so named because the author will give their own individual perspective on these points in the course of the piece. Viewpoints are always commissioned and are subjected to editorial review but are not peer-reviewed.
  Viewpoints should be less than 1,000 words with one figure or table (3 publication units) in length. 
• Commentaries
• Commentary pieces are aimed at readers across the Earth and space sciences and discuss issues of interest to the community, meetings, workshops, or other notable or historical events. Further guidelines on Commentary style and format are here. Commentaries in AGU Advances are often commissioned, but we welcome inquiries about potential articles at advances@agu.org.
  Commentaries should be less than 2,000 words, with up to two figures (6 publication units).
• Editorials
• Editorials give opinion statements about research, policy, the community, or related issues. Members of the board may write Editorials themselves, co-author them with guest authors, or commission Editorials from guest authors whose position they wish to endorse. Inquiries are welcome at advances@agu.org.
  Editorials should be less than 1,000 words with one figure or table (3 publication units).