Journal profile · Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
ISSN 0031-0182 · eISSN 1872-616X · Elsevier · NETHERLANDS · Semimonthly · Founded 1965
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology: CAS Zone 2 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.82; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,210; review about 115 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 672 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 2 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, Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils and Geological formations and processes, together about 47.3% of its articles. Its main subfields are Paleontology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
An International Journal for the Geo-SciencesPalaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology publishes high quality studies in the field of palaeoenvironmental geoscience. We seek submissions that address broad scientific questions of interest to a wide international community and focus on significant events in the evolution of life and environment. The reach of the journal covers the entire deep-time history of the biosphere from the Archaean through to the Quaternary. A key criterion for consideration is that submissions address some key aspect of palaeoenvironmental change as their major theme including, but not limited to, studies of palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, and palaeobiogeography. We also look favourably on submissions that use a multi-disciplinary approach and/or bring together large quantitative datasets. As the journal aims to cut across the boundaries of established sciences, every effort should be made to present research findings in a way that is understandable for a general readership. Manuscripts may be submitted as either research contributions or as a review article, and we also encourage the development of special issues on significant topics. Please note that studies of plate tectonics, sediment provenance and coal petrography are generally considered out of scope for the journal, and we can only normally consider submissions that are based on geological datasets or materials.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Editor-in-chief Howard Falcon-LangPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 26 in mainland China (about 23%); most named Mainland China 26, United States 14, Germany 11, Italy 9, United Kingdom 8 (113 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 Sciences24.5%
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsEarth and Planetary Sciences14.2%
- Geological formations and processesEarth and Planetary Sciences8.6%
- Isotope Analysis in EcologyEnvironmental Science5%
- Evolution and Paleontology StudiesEarth and Planetary Sciences4.8%
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologySocial Sciences4.2%
- Geological and Geochemical AnalysisEarth and Planetary Sciences4%
- Marine Biology and Ecology ResearchEarth and Planetary Sciences3.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geography, Physical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Paleontology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geography, Physical | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Paleontology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Paleontology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Geography, Physical | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview 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
- 2.82LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 4.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 4.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.97LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.06LetPub ·
- h-index
- 134LetPub ·
- h-index
- 238OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 10,184OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.43OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 17.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 20.07%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 625LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 15,283 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 598 | 204 | 258 |
| 2025 | 672 | 197 | 1,389 |
| 2024 | 511 | 172 | 2,680 |
| 2023 | 467 | 157 | 4,156 |
| 2022 | 399 | 126 | 4,725 |
| 2021 | 466 | 170 | 7,323 |
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
115 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)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 1 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 46 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 115 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 3 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 3,210 / EUR 3,000 / GBP 2,570 / JPY 398,140 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,680 | — | — |
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 papers10, by deadline
- Holistic perspective on early Paleoproterozoic Earth’s evolution: from deep mantle to surfaceDeadline
- Past ecosystems as drivers of cultural ecology: new approaches in the analysis of the Human-palaeoenvironmental interactionsDeadline
- Evolution of arid and semi-arid regions in China: analysis of surface processes and driving mechanisms from Neogene to RecentDeadline
- Paleoenvironmental evolution in the Arctic and East Asian regions from the Neogene to the present: linking high-latitude cryospheric processes with mid-latitude atmospheric circulation and monsoon dynamicsDeadline
- River-Shelf Sedimentary Archives in the Western Pacific: Deciphering Palaeoenvironmental Dynamics and Forcing MechanismsDeadline
- Archaeological studies of human adaptation strategies through the Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate fluctuationsDeadline
- Paleoenvironmental changes across global peatlands and its effects on carbon pool formationDeadline
- Cretaceous amber: Sedimentary environments, taphonomy, and associated biotaDeadline
- Black shales as archives of major environmental perturbations and biotic events through Earth historyDeadline
- The Tethyan Evolution: Perspectives from Biota, Paleoenvironment, Paleoclimate and PaleogeographyDeadline
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 7,000 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted12, with length limits
- case studyFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…Length not stated
- commentAuthors wishing to comment on a recently published PPP paper should submit a ‘Comment’ which must be brief and directed only towards the main issue(s) that are …Length not stated
- full length articlesFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…Length not stated
- original paperFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…Length not stated
- original researchFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…Length not stated
- replyThe original author(s) will be invited to write a ‘Reply’ that must likewise be brief and directed only at the issues in question.Length not stated
- research articleFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…Length not stated
- reviewFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…Length not stated
- review articleFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…main text ≤ 10,000 words
- review articlesReview articles that assess the state of knowledge of a particular subfield or topic and point toward future research needs and directions. These review article…Length not stated
- short communicationFull length articles that meet the Aims and Scope of the journal, with typical length of text in the 5000-7000 word range. Research articles may include specifi…main text ≤ 4,000 words
- short communicationsShort Communications are primarily intended to be compact versions of Full Length Articles, and must still report new and original research of high quality that…Length not stated
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
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- NETHERLANDS
- Language
- Multi-Language
- Frequency
- Semimonthly
- Founded
- 1965
- ISSN
- 0031-0182
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-616X
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
What CAS zone is Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Geography, Physical / Geosciences, Multidisciplinary / Paleontology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.82; CiteScore 4.8, h-index 238.
How long does peer review take at Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology?
The publisher reports about 115 days (submission to acceptance); 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 Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 7,000 words; Reference style: Author–date; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional. 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 Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology based?
Of the 113 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 26 (about 23%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (26), United States (14) and Germany (11). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology open access, and what is the APC?
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,210.
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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .