Journal profile · Social Sciences-Urban Studies
Urban Climate
ISSN 2212-0955 · Elsevier · UNITED STATES
Urban Climate: CAS Zone 2 · Engineering (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 7.54; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,690; review about 158 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 484 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Urban Climate is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 2 of Engineering in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Urban Heat Island Mitigation, Air Quality and Health Impacts and Urban Green Space and Health, together about 40.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Environmental Engineering and Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Urban climate serves the scientific and decision-making communities with the publication of research on theory, science, and applications relevant to identifying and describing, explaining and predicting urban climatic conditions and change. The journal considers research in the fields of meteorology, geography, demography, social science, economics, engineering, environmental science and political, as it relates to climate smart, sustainable and resilient cities. Targeted towards both disciplinary and interdisciplinary audiences, this journal publishes original research papers, comprehensive review articles, book reviews, and short communications on topics including, but not limited to, the following:Urban weather and climate:The study of the physics, dynamics, and chemistry of the interactions of the Earth’s atmosphere and the urban built environment, and how they affect the urban environment including human populations. Urban canopy and boundary layerUrban heat island effectsCoastal floodingUrban energy budgetImpact of urban meteorology, materials, and form on urban energy useUrban hydrologic cycleUrban-coastal interactionsFeedbacks between air quality, local climate and global climate changeUrban impact on precipitationUrban microclimate and weather eventsUrban environmental pollution:The study of the causes, effects and dynamics of urban pollution as they relate to the urban built environment and impacts on and from the urban climate. Emissions and chemistryUrban air qualityAerosol formation and dynamicsLarge-scale pollution from urban agglomerationsEmergency preparednessIndoor and outdoor environmentPopulation exposure and health impactsUrban vegetation impacts and green citiesUrban adaptation to climate change:The study of the urban physical, social, economic and governance processes of adapting cities and urban areas to climate change both in preventive and protective terms. Urban vulnerability to climate hazards and climate changeUrban infrastructure system adaptation Urban adaptation policies, strategies & governance Urban mitigation to climate change: The study of urban technologies, behaviors and social and natural processes that help to reduce the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from cities. Urban GHG sources and drivers of climate changeUrban technologies for reducing climate changeUrban mitigation policies, strategies & governance Urban economic and social dynamics and climate:Uses of the tools of social science and economics to study urban activities and their vulnerabilities and contributions to adaptation to urban climate and their contributions to impacts on urban climate. Urban climate impacts and environmental justiceUrban climate and public healthUrban transportation systems and climate Urban materials, energy consumption, and healthPoverty, gender and vulnerability in urban areasUrban governance, institutions and innovation and climateUrban human bioclimatology and thermal comfortIntegrated urban systems and services for climate smart and sustainable cities Urban hydrology and climate The study of the alteration of natural hydrologic regimes within cities that affect discharge patterns including infiltration and runoff, evapotranspiration, direct water discharges via wastewater, and increased water withdrawals and water transfers and either increase vulnerability or contribute to urban climate. Urban hydrology and climateClimate and residential use of water supplyWater use, vegetation and climate Urban ecology and climate The study of urban ecosystems as they create vulnerability or support adaptation to urban climate or contribute to climate change.Urban vegetation and climate Green roofs and urban climate Green infrastructure and urban climate
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Social Sciences-Urban Studies
Editor-in-chief Fei ChenPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 10 in mainland China (about 13%); most named United States 21, Mainland China 10, United Kingdom 6, Hong Kong, China 5, Brazil 3 (75 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Urban Heat Island MitigationEnvironmental Science22.6%
- Air Quality and Health ImpactsEnvironmental Science8.9%
- Urban Green Space and HealthEnvironmental Science8.7%
- Building Energy and Comfort OptimizationEngineering6.8%
- Land Use and Ecosystem ServicesEnvironmental Science6.2%
- Wind and Air Flow StudiesEnvironmental Science6%
- Climate Change and Health ImpactsEnvironmental Science5.2%
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosolsEarth and Planetary Sciences4.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Engineering Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences | Zone 2 |
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
- 7.54LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 7.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 12.2LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 12.2Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.71LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.58LetPub ·
- h-index
- 118OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,848OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 7.45OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 23.78%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 473LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 3,123 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 403 | 200 | 242 |
| 2025 | 484 | 158 | 3,039 |
| 2024 | 465 | 146 | 6,793 |
| 2023 | 398 | 115 | 10,410 |
| 2022 | 312 | 88 | 10,205 |
| 2021 | 299 | 95 | 11,707 |
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
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
- Submission to first decision
- 10 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 65 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 158 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 9 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 3,690 / EUR 3,450 / GBP 2,950 / JPY 457,670 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,930 | — | — |
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)
What to prepare1 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
Article types accepted10, with length limits
- book reviewFull length Articles:Original papers provide a substantial novel finding within a specific field of urban climate as defined in the Journal’s aims and scope. Th…main text ≤ 1,500 words
- book reviewsBook Reviews: Book reviews are short articles of 500-1,500 words. The aim of these articles is to summarize the book’s content, shed light on its strengths and …Length not stated
- full length articlesFull length Articles: Original papers provide a substantial novel finding within a specific field of urban climate as defined in the Journal’s aims and scope. T…Length not stated
- hypothesisFull length Articles:Original papers provide a substantial novel finding within a specific field of urban climate as defined in the Journal’s aims and scope. Th…Length not stated
- new directions in urban climate scienceNew Directions in Urban Climate Science: Occasionally, new methods, hypotheses, and theories arise across a scientific discipline that need explication for adva…Length not stated
- original paperFull length Articles:Original papers provide a substantial novel finding within a specific field of urban climate as defined in the Journal’s aims and scope. Th…Length not stated
- reviewFull length Articles:Original papers provide a substantial novel finding within a specific field of urban climate as defined in the Journal’s aims and scope. Th…Length not stated
- review articleFull length Articles:Original papers provide a substantial novel finding within a specific field of urban climate as defined in the Journal’s aims and scope. Th…main text ≤ 12,000 words
- review articlesReview Articles: Review articles present a critical and/or systematic overview of the state-of-art of international literature within a specific field of urban …Length not stated
- short communicationFull length Articles:Original papers provide a substantial novel finding within a specific field of urban climate as defined in the Journal’s aims and scope. Th…main text ≤ 3,000 words
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, 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 ·- Publication ethics
Authors must follow Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy. Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
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
Editable source files required (.doc/.docx for Word, .tex for LaTeX); PDF not acceptable; Word files single-column; double-column only for LaTeX. Model summary
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 peer review; submissions initially assessed by editors; if suitable, sent to a minimum of two reviewers; editors make the decision; appeals follow Elsevier's Appeal Policy with one appeal per submission. 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 and does not count as prior publication; free preprint posting service on SSRN offered during submission. 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
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2212-0955
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Urban Climate
What CAS zone is Urban Climate in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Urban Climate is in Zone 2 of Engineering, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Environmental Sciences / Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Engineering. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Urban Climate?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 7.54; CiteScore 12.2, h-index 118.
How long does peer review take at Urban Climate?
The publisher reports about 158 days (submission to acceptance). 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Urban Climate based?
Of the 75 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 10 (about 13%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (21), Mainland China (10) and United Kingdom (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Urban Climate?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Urban Climate is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Urban Climate open access, and what is the APC?
Urban Climate is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,690.
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: .