Journal profile · Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Journal of Paleolimnology
ISSN 0921-2728 · eISSN 1573-0417 · Springer Netherlands · NETHERLANDS · Bimonthly · Founded 1988
Journal of Paleolimnology: CAS Zone 4 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.34; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,990; median 165 days to acceptance (62 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 32 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Paleolimnology is published by Springer Netherlands and is in Zone 4 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Geology and Paleoclimatology Research, Geological formations and processes and Isotope Analysis in Ecology, together about 48.4% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The realization that a historical perspective is often useful, if not essential, to the understanding of most limnological processes has resulted in the recent surge of interest in paleolimnology. The main aim of the Journal of Paleolimnology is the provision of a vehicle for the rapid dissemination of original scientific work dealing with the reconstruction of lake histories. Although the majority of papers deal with lakes, paleoenvironmental studies of river, wetland, peatland and estuary systems are also eligible for publication.The Journal of Paleolimnology, like the subject itself, is multidisciplinary in nature, and papers are published that are concerned with all aspects (e.g. biological, chemical, physical, geological, etc.) of the reconstruction and interpretation of lake histories. Both applied and more theoretical papers are equally encouraged. The Journal of Paleolimnology will continue to be a major repository for papers dealing with climatic change, as well as other pressing topics, such as global environmental change, lake acidification, eutrophication, long-term monitoring, and other aspects of lake ontogeny. Taxonomic and methodological papers are also acceptable provided they are of relatively broad interest. New equipment designs are frequently featured. In addition to original data and ideas, the Journal of Paleolimnology also publishes review articles, commentaries and program announcements. A relevant Book Review Section is also featured. The Journal of Paleolimnology is published eight times per year by Springer
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 12%); most named United Kingdom 4, Canada 4, Mainland China 2, Switzerland 2, Mexico 2 (17 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Geology and Paleoclimatology ResearchEarth and Planetary Sciences30.9%
- Geological formations and processesEarth and Planetary Sciences9.2%
- Isotope Analysis in EcologyEnvironmental Science8.4%
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton DynamicsEnvironmental Science8.2%
- Marine and coastal ecosystemsEarth and Planetary Sciences3.8%
- Diatoms and Algae ResearchMaterials Science3.5%
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and BehaviorEnvironmental Science2.9%
- Marine and environmental studiesEarth and Planetary Sciences2.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Limnology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Limnology | Zone 2 |
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 | Limnology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
GeoRefCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, Semantic Scholar
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- 1.34LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.7Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.2LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.66LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.81LetPub ·
- h-index
- 76LetPub ·
- h-index
- 120OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,799OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.57OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 7.7%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 43.14%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 32LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 306,300Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,501 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 13 | 10 |
| 2025 | 32 | 19 | 38 |
| 2024 | 42 | 22 | 111 |
| 2023 | 34 | 17 | 182 |
| 2022 | 46 | 19 | 292 |
| 2021 | 63 | 25 | 744 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
165 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 120 days – 214 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 28 days (62 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 185 days
- Sample
- 62 articles with submission and acceptance dates (68 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 9 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer review, Double 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 3,990 / EUR 2,990 / GBP 2,590 | — | — |
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 papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 9,000 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted12
- editorialSingle-blind peer review This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. This journal also publishes special/guest-edited issues. The peer review proce…Length not stated
- frey-deevey invited reviewsFrey-Deevey Invited Reviews represent a separate category of invited review papers.Length not stated
- letterThere are 4 categories of published contributions: Research Papers: 5-15 printed pages long, including tables, figures, and references to the literature.Short N…Length not stated
- rapid communicationThere are 4 categories of published contributions: Research Papers: 5-15 printed pages long, including tables, figures, and references to the literature.Short N…Length not stated
- rapid communicationsRapid Communications: This category provides a vehicle for rapid publication (<6 months) of short, timely, high-impact manuscripts of broad interest to paleolim…Length not stated
- research paperThere are 4 categories of published contributions: Research Papers: 5-15 printed pages long, including tables, figures, and references to the literature.Short N…Length not stated
- research papersResearch Papers: 5-15 printed pages long, including tables, figures, and references to the literature.Length not stated
- reviewThere are 4 categories of published contributions: Research Papers: 5-15 printed pages long, including tables, figures, and references to the literature.Short N…Length not stated
- review articleThere are 4 categories of published contributions: Research Papers: 5-15 printed pages long, including tables, figures, and references to the literature.Short N…Length not stated
- review papersReview Papers: Because these manuscripts can be long, prospective authors should consult the editors before preparing and submitting review articles.Length not stated
- short notesShort Notes: 2-4 pages long. These include technical notes that describe new equipment or procedures, comments on recently published papers, or computer applica…Length not stated
- technical noteThere are 4 categories of published contributions: Research Papers: 5-15 printed pages long, including tables, figures, and references to the literature.Short N…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Research data archiving encouraged Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
Originality and co-author approval Model summary
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Paleolimnology, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Single-blind peer review
Single-blind peer review Model summary
This journal follows a single-blind reviewing procedure. This journal also publishes special/guest-edited issues. The peer review process for these articles is the same as the peer review process of the journal in general. Additionally, if a guest editor authors an article in their issue/collection, they will not handle the peer review process. Manuscripts are first checked for content, writing qu…
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
- Springer Netherlands
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1988
- ISSN
- 0921-2728
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-0417
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Paleolimnology
What CAS zone is Journal of Paleolimnology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Paleolimnology is in Zone 4 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Limnology / Environmental Sciences / Geosciences, Multidisciplinary. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Paleolimnology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.34; CiteScore 3.2, h-index 120.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Paleolimnology?
Based on the dates recorded on 62 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 165 days (interquartile range 120–214 days); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly 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 Journal of Paleolimnology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Manuscript length: ≤ 9,000 words; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Cover letter: Required. 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 Journal of Paleolimnology based?
Of the 17 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 12%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (4), Canada (4) and Mainland China (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Paleolimnology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Paleolimnology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists GeoRef and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Paleolimnology open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Paleolimnology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; 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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .