Journal profile · Oceanography
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
ISSN 0272-7714 · eISSN 1096-0015 · Academic Press Inc. · ENGLAND · Semimonthly · Founded 1981
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science: CAS Zone 3 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.76; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,410; review about 158 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy; 458 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science is published by Academic Press Inc. and is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Marine Biology and Ecology Research, Marine and coastal ecosystems and Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics, together about 32.3% of its articles. Its main subfields are Oceanography and Ecology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
In association with the Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association (ECSA)Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science is an international multidisciplinary journal devoted to the analysis of saline water phenomena ranging from the outer edge of the continental shelf to the upper limits of the tidal zone.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science provides a unique forum, unifying the multidisciplinary approaches to the study of the oceanography of estuaries, coastal zones, and continental shelf seas. It features original research papers, review papers and short communications treating such disciplines as zoology, botany, geology, sedimentology, physical oceanography.The journal publishes topics including:Numerical modelling of estuarine and coastal marine ecosystemsSpecies distribution in relation to varying environmentsEffects of waste disposalGroundwater runoff and Chemical processesEstuarine and fjord circulation patternsMeteorological and oceanic forcing of semi-enclosed and continental shelf water massesSea-surface and sea-bed processesEstuarine and coastal sedimentary processes and geochemistryBrackish water and lagoon phenomenaTransitional watersEcosystem modelling Analysis of ecosystem processes Exploitation of coastal resourcesEstuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science does not accept manuscripts on data reports of mainly local interest.Reviewer recognitionTo download a certificate of your review, please go to your Reviewer Recognition Profile (RRP). You can access this with the email address you used for your review here: reviewerrecognition.elsevier.com.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Oceanography
Editor-in-chief Dan BairdPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 12 in mainland China (about 15%); most named United States 18, Mainland China 12, Australia 10, United Kingdom 8, Germany 8 (82 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Marine Biology and Ecology ResearchEarth and Planetary Sciences11.3%
- Marine and coastal ecosystemsEarth and Planetary Sciences10.8%
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamicsEnvironmental Science10.1%
- Marine and fisheries researchEnvironmental Science9.8%
- Marine and coastal plant biologyEarth and Planetary Sciences6.8%
- Coastal and Marine DynamicsEarth and Planetary Sciences6.1%
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture StudiesEnvironmental Science5.5%
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric ProcessesEarth and Planetary Sciences5.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Marine & Freshwater Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Oceanography | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Marine & Freshwater Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Oceanography | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Marine & Freshwater Biology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Oceanography | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.76LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 4.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.83LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.05LetPub ·
- h-index
- 118LetPub ·
- h-index
- 200OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 7,966OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.55OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 7.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 37.6%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 426LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 11,163 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 485 | 206 | 140 |
| 2025 | 458 | 220 | 1,084 |
| 2024 | 399 | 226 | 2,199 |
| 2023 | 301 | 151 | 2,659 |
| 2022 | 359 | 192 | 4,256 |
| 2021 | 417 | 173 | 6,765 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
158 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 93 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 158 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,410 / EUR 3,190 / GBP 2,730 / JPY 422,940 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,160 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers4, by deadline
- Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas: Advances in Tidal Dynamics, Mixing, and Coastal CirculationDeadline
- Bridging the gap between science and policy in estuarine and coastal marine biodiversity: the way forwardDeadline
- Connectivity across water realms for ecosystem resilienceDeadline
- Mangroves at the Frontier: Advancing Meaningful Conservation Science in a Changing WorldDeadline
What to prepare2 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
Article types accepted4, with length limits
- original research paperEstuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science is an international multidisciplinary journal devoted to the analysis of saline water phenomena ranging from the outer edge…main text ≤ 8,000 words
- research note/short communicationA research note/short communication should not contain more than 4,000 words and no more than 3 figures and 1 table.Length not stated
- reviewEstuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science is an international multidisciplinary journal devoted to the analysis of saline water phenomena ranging from the outer edge…Length not stated
- short communicationEstuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science is an international multidisciplinary journal devoted to the analysis of saline water phenomena ranging from the outer edge…main text ≤ 4,000 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Academic Press Inc.
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Semimonthly
- Founded
- 1981
- ISSN
- 0272-7714
- Electronic ISSN
- 1096-0015
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science
What CAS zone is Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Marine & Freshwater Biology / Oceanography. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.76; CiteScore 4.8, h-index 200.
How long does peer review take at Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science?
The publisher reports about 158 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science based?
Of the 82 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 12 (about 15%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (18), Mainland China (12) and Australia (10). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science open access, and what is the APC?
Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,410.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .