Journal profile · GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Quaternary
ISSN 2571-550X · MDPI AG · Switzerland
Quaternary: CAS Zone 3 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2 (journal website); fully open access; APC charged, amount not published; review about 11 weeks (community reports); 76 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Quaternary is published by MDPI AG 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 Geology and Paleoclimatology Research, Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology and Archaeology and ancient environmental studies, together about 52.8% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Quaternary (ISSN 2571-550X) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal of Quaternary Science, embracing the whole range of scientific fields related to geological, ecological, physical, chemical, environmental and human sciences. It publishes reviews, research articles, communications, technical notes and essays as well as Special Issues on particular subjects. The journal has no restriction regarding the length of papers and encourages scientists to publish their research work as much in detail as possible. The journal covers the following interest areas and sub-areas in Quaternary environments and processes: Sedimentary evolution, environments and processes as stratigraphy (including chronology and correlation), palaeontology (including biodiversity and diversification), tectonic history, geophysical imaging, geochemical properties, dating (including methodology), palaeosols, limnology, and palaeohydrology. Geomorphological evolution, processes and reconstructions (including external and internal forcing) Palaeoclimatology: Reconstruction and modelling, oceanic and atmospheric dynamics, climatic cycles and astronomical forcing, episodic and abrupt climatic changes, feedbacks and non-linear responses, high-resolution and long records, and global change, (multi-)proxy analysis (e.g., dendroclimatology, historical documentary archives). Palaeoecology: Terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, biotic responses to environmental change, community assembly and succession, impact of human activities, climate–human feedbacks and synergies, and global biogeochemical processes. Archaeology and anthropology: Human evolution and habitats, human influence on ecosystems and landscape, climate–landscape–human feedbacks and synergies, and ancient DNA. Methods: Palaeoarchives (including global databases), field and laboratory methods, dating techniques, and novel proxies (e.g., biomarkers). Applications: Natural hazards (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, floods, droughts, etc.) monitoring, prediction and risk assessment, input for geo-biodiversity conservation, geoparks, landscape restoration, and natural resource management. Palaeoinsights (philosophical aspects): Opinion papers, new perspectives, science, and society.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 7%); most named United Kingdom 6, France 4, Spain 4, Canada 3, Mainland China 2 (30 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%
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologySocial Sciences15.8%
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studiesEarth and Planetary Sciences12.5%
- Evolution and Paleontology StudiesEarth and Planetary Sciences5.9%
- Geological formations and processesEarth and Planetary Sciences5.6%
- Marine and environmental studiesEarth and Planetary Sciences5%
- Maritime and Coastal ArchaeologyArts and Humanities3.5%
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesArts and Humanities2.7%
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 | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | 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 | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
ESCIScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Web of ScienceGeoRefPublisher website
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 (publisher) 2025
- 2Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.4Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.7LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 3.7Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.7LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.98LetPub ·
- h-index
- 29OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 129OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.8OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 20%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 100%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 70LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 463 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 65 | 65 | 15 |
| 2025 | 76 | 76 | 80 |
| 2024 | 59 | 59 | 264 |
| 2023 | 61 | 61 | 373 |
| 2022 | 54 | 54 | 665 |
| 2021 | 46 | 46 | 910 |
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 PubMed · to
Too few articlesOnly 4 articles from the last 24 months carry both submission and acceptance dates, too few for a median
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 11 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 26.8 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 5.6 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication
- 78 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 6 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
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
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | CHF 1,600 | Yes | CC BY | |
| OpenAlex | CHF 1,600 | — | — | |
| LetPub | CHF 1,600 | Yes | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
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)
What to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 200 words
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- First submission
- Free format: the journal's layout is not required
- Suggested reviewers
- Required, 3
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted20
- articleArticle: These are original research manuscripts.Length not stated
- book reviewAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- brief communicationAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- brief reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- case reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- commentaryAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- conference reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- editorialAll peer-reviewed articles published by MDPI are assessed by our independent Academic Editors, and MDPI staff are not involved in any editorial decisions regard…Length not stated
- hypothesisAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- letterAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- opinionAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- perspectiveAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- protocolAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- registered reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- reviewAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- scoping reviewA Scoping Review type can be submitted as a Review.Length not stated
- systematic reviewAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- technical noteAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- tutorialAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- viewpointAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAuthorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- Authorship Authorship
MDPI follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines which state that, in order to qualify for authorship of a manuscript, the following criteria should be observed: Make substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; Draft the work or review it critically for important intel…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Conflicts of Interest
Prohibits excessive self-citation, copying references, preferential citation, and citing advertisements; COPE guidelines apply. Model summary
According to The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, “Authors should avoid entering into agreements with study sponsors, both for-profit and non-profit, that interfere with authors’ access to all of the study’s data or that interfere with their ability to analyze and interpret the data and to prepare and publish manuscripts independently when and where they choose.” All authors mus…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data sharing encouraged; FAIR principles; deposit in trusted repositories; restrictions explained in Data Availability Statement. Model summary
Data availability statements are required for all articles published with MDPI. During the peer review and editorial decision process, authors can be asked to share existing datasets or raw data that have been analyzed in the manuscript, and whether they will be made available to other researchers following publication. Authors will also be asked for the details of any existing datasets that have …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Publication Ethics Statement
Quaternary is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We fully adhere to its Code of Conduct and to its Best Practice Guidelines. The editors of this journal enforce a rigorous peer review process together with strict ethical policies and standards to ensure to add high quality scientific works to the field of scholarly publication. Unfortunately, cases of plagiarism, data falsific…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright / Open Access
Articles published in Quaternary will be Open-Access articles distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The copyright is retained by the author(s). MDPI will insert the following note at the end of the published text: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publication fees
If you transfer your manuscript to another open access (OA) journal, you will be charged an Article Processing Charge (APC) if your article is accepted for publication. The APC for each journal can be found on the individual journal’s website. For more information about APCs, please see here.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Editorial Process and Peer Review
All submissions are thoroughly peer-reviewed by experts within the field and undergo a structured editorial workflow designed to ensure quality, transparency, and scientific integrity. The full editorial procedure is available on the Editorial Process page and is also provided below. Pre-check Pre-check consists of a technical pre-check performed by the Editorial Office and an editorial pre-check …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints and Conference Papers
Quaternary accepts submissions that have previously been made available as preprints provided that they have not undergone peer review. A preprint is a draft version of a paper made available online before submission to a journal. MDPI operates Preprints, a preprint server to which submitted papers can be uploaded directly after completing journal submission. Note that Preprints operates independe…
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
- MDPI AG
- Country or region
- Switzerland
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2571-550X
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 9 (2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Aims & Scope ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗LetPub
- Editorial board ↗LetPub
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Quaternary
What CAS zone is Quaternary in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Quaternary is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Geosciences, Multidisciplinary. 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 Quaternary?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 2 (2025); this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; CiteScore 3.7, h-index 29.
How long does peer review take at Quaternary?
Authors report an average review time of about 11 weeks. 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 Quaternary?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 200 words; Reference style: Author–date; Templates: LaTeX and Word; First submission: Free format: the journal's layout is not required; Suggested reviewers: Required, 3; Graphical abstract: 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 Quaternary based?
Of the 30 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 7%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (6), France (4) and Spain (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Quaternary?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Quaternary is indexed in ESCI, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists Web of Science and GeoRef; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Quaternary open access, and what is the APC?
Quaternary is a fully open-access journal. APC charged, amount not published.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex, DOAJ; 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: .