CAS major category
Earth Sciences SCI Journals
The Earth Sciences major category of the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition) holds 614 journals. This page ranks them by impact factor and gives each one's CAS zone, review time, APC and open-access status (as of October 2026). Largest minor categories: Geosciences, Multidisciplinary (218), Geochemistry & Geophysics (98), Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences (90), Geology (62), Remote Sensing (61), Paleontology (59), Geography, Physical (52), Oceanography (45).
Earth Sciences SCI Journals by impact factor
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
ISSN 2662-138X · Springer NatureMultiple
IF 74.55CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopSubscription126 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Reviews of Geophysics
ISSN 8755-1209 · Wiley-Blackwell · UNITED STATESGeochemistry & Geophysics
IF 38.59CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 240 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 3,880Hybrid OA32 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Nature Climate Change
ISSN 1758-678X · Springer Nature · ENGLANDENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES-METEOROLOGY & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
IF 26.43CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 237 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 12,690Hybrid OA310 articles/yrSCIE · SSCI · Scopus
View journal profile →Annual Review of Marine Science
ISSN 1941-1405 · Annual Reviews Inc. · UNITED STATESGeochemistry & Geophysics
IF 22.3CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopSubscription20 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Nature Geoscience
ISSN 1752-0894 · Springer Nature · ENGLANDGeosciences, Multidisciplinary
IF 20.66CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 292 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 12,690Hybrid OA269 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Magazine
ISSN 2168-6831 · IEEE Geosciene and Remote Sensing Society · UNITED STATESComputer Science-General Computer Science
IF 16.31CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopAPC about USD 2,995Subscription130 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences
ISSN 0084-6597 · Annual Reviews Inc. · UNITED STATESGeosciences, Multidisciplinary
IF 15.78CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopSubscription27 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
ISSN 0924-2716 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDSImaging Science & Photographic Technology
IF 12.91CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 180 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 3,310Hybrid OA422 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Geoscience Frontiers
ISSN 1674-9871 · China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University · ChinaEarth and Planetary Sciences-General Earth and Planetary Sciences
IF 12.73CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 160 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 3,000Gold OA172 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Earth System Science Data
ISSN 1866-3508 · Copernicus Publications · GERMANYGEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARYMETEOROLOGY-METEOROLOGY & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
IF 12.68CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 35 weeksAPC charged, amount not publishedGold OA338 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Satellite Navigation
ISSN 2662-9291 · SpringerOpen · United KingdomMultiple
IF 12.4CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 165 days to acceptanceNo APCDiamond OA34 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Current Climate Change Reports
ISSN 2198-6061 · Springer International Publishing · GERMANYEnvironmental Science-Global and Planetary Change
IF 12.3CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 17 days (submission to first decision, publisher)APC about USD 4,490Hybrid OA8 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Remote Sensing of Environment
ISSN 0034-4257 · Elsevier Inc. · UNITED STATESImaging Science & Photographic Technology
IF 12.27CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 192 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 4,450Hybrid OA523 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Earth-Science Reviews
ISSN 0012-8252 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDSGeosciences, Multidisciplinary
IF 11.25CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 160 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 5,120Hybrid OA261 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Journal of Remote Sensing
ISSN 2694-1589 · American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · United StatesEarth and Planetary Sciences-Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
IF 11CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 208 days to acceptanceNo APCDiamond OA71 articles/yrESCI · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Reports on Geodesy and Geoinformatics
ISSN 2391-8365 · Sciendo · PolandREMOTE SENSING
IF 11CAS Zone 4 · Earth SciencesReview: about 12 weeksNo APCGold OA23 articles/yrESCI · DOAJ
View journal profile →npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
ISSN 2397-3722 · Springer Nature · ENGLANDEarth and Planetary Sciences-Atmospheric Science
IF 9.63CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 125 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 3,690Gold OA420 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Communications Earth & Environment
ISSN 2662-4435 · Springer Nature · United KingdomMultiple
IF 9.31CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 192 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 3,690Gold OA1,139 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing
ISSN 0196-2892 · Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. · UNITED STATESGeochemistry & Geophysics
IF 9.1CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 4 monthsAPC about USD 2,645Subscription2,736 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Computers Environment and Urban Systems
ISSN 0198-9715 · ElsevierMultiple
IF 8.94CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 169 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 3,740Hybrid OA99 articles/yrSSCI · Scopus
View journal profile →Gondwana Research
ISSN 1342-937X · Elsevier Inc. · NETHERLANDSGeosciences, Multidisciplinary
IF 8.92CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 198 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 3,700Hybrid OA283 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus
View journal profile →Earths Future
ISSN 2328-4277 · Wiley-Blackwell · ENGLANDENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESGEOSCIENCES, MULTIDI-GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
IF 8.44CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: median 176 days to acceptanceAPC about USD 3,180Gold OA362 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
ISSN 0303-2434 · Elsevier · NETHERLANDSRemote Sensing
IF 8.18CAS Zone 1 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 143 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 3,550Gold OA675 articles/yrSCIE · Scopus · DOAJ
View journal profile →Applied Geography
ISSN 0143-6228 · ElsevierGEOGRAPHY
IF 7.45CAS Zone 2 · Earth Sciences · TopReview: about 151 days (submission to acceptance, publisher)APC about USD 3,220Hybrid OA310 articles/yrSSCI · Scopus
View journal profile →Earth Sciences journals: frequently asked questions
How many SCI journals are there in Earth Sciences?
As of October 2026, JournalCompass lists 614 journals in the Earth Sciences major category of the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition): 50 in Zone 1, 88 in Zone 2, 133 in Zone 3 and 330 in Zone 4, 62 of them Top journals. By database: SCIE 452, SSCI 16, A&HCI 7 and ESCI 136 (a journal can be indexed in more than one).
Which Earth Sciences journals are in CAS Zone 1?
By impact factor, the Zone 1 journals in Earth Sciences include Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (impact factor 74.55), Reviews of Geophysics (impact factor 38.59), Nature Climate Change (impact factor 26.43), Annual Review of Marine Science (impact factor 22.3), Nature Geoscience (impact factor 20.66), 50 in all; see the full list of Zone 1 Earth Sciences journals.
Which Earth Sciences journals have fast peer review?
Across the 547 Earth Sciences journals with review-time data, the median review time is about 17.7 weeks. Among Zone 1–2 journals, fast ones include Current Climate Change Reports (about 2.4 weeks, publisher figure), Atmospheric chemistry and physics (about 2.5 weeks, community reports), Journal of Climate (about 2.5 weeks, community reports), Advances in Geo-Energy Research (about 3 weeks, community reports), Remote Sensing (about 5.5 weeks, community reports). Review times come first from article statistics (the median from submission to acceptance over the last 24 months), then from publisher figures and community reports; a single manuscript can take much longer or shorter.
Which Earth Sciences journals charge no APC?
80 journals in Earth Sciences charge authors no article processing charge (APC); those with the highest impact factors include Satellite Navigation (impact factor 12.4), Journal of Remote Sensing (impact factor 11), Reports on Geodesy and Geoinformatics (impact factor 11), China Geology (impact factor 5.1), Tropical Cyclone Research and Review (impact factor 5.1); see the list of Earth Sciences journals with no APC. Subscription journals usually charge no APC but may charge for colour figures or extra pages; check the journal's website before submitting.
Further reading: How to read journal rankings · How to read review times and acceptance rates · Find journals from your abstract