Geophysical Journal International (GJI), established in 1922, is a leading monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal dedicated to advancing the understanding of solid-Earth geophysics. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) and the Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft (DGG), GJI has a distinguished history that traces back to the Geophysical Supplement to the Monthly Notices of the RAS, which was initiated in 1919. The journal was formed in 1988 through the merger of several geophysical publications, including the Geophysical Journal, Zeitschrift für Geophysik, and parts of Annales Geophysicae, reflecting its deep roots in the global geophysical community.
GJI publishes a wide range of content, including original research papers, express letters, review articles, and data notes, focusing on all aspects of theoretical, computational, experimental, applied, and observational geophysics. Its scope encompasses critical areas such as elastic waves (e.g., seismic and acoustic waves), gravity, geomagnetism, electromagnetism, seismology, tectonophysics, volcanology, and thermal processes in the Earth’s interior. The journal also explores the Earth’s rotation, shape, surface and deep motions, and the physical and chemical properties of crustal and mantle materials. Research published in GJI often integrates new data, methods, and interpretations to address fundamental questions about the Earth’s internal structure, physical properties, and dynamic processes, with an emphasis on reproducibility and open data access.
As of January 2024, GJI is fully open-access, aligning with its mission to make high-quality geophysical research widely accessible to a global audience. It is indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), underscoring its commitment to best practices in open-access publishing. The journal encourages submissions that demonstrate significant advancements in geophysical methods, with a preference for manuscripts that include proof of concept against real data and show potential for broader scientific impact beyond specific applications. Interdisciplinary papers are welcomed, provided they use accessible, problem-oriented language and demonstrate substantial innovation compared to existing methods.
GJI’s editorial process is rigorous, overseen by an internationally renowned editorial board led by Editor-in-Chief Joerg Renner (Ruhr University Bochum). Manuscripts undergo thorough peer review to ensure scientific quality and relevance, with authors required to provide data availability statements to promote transparency. The journal supports the RAS’s charitable mission to connect and support astronomers and geophysicists worldwide, with publication funds contributing to these efforts. Authors are encouraged to prepare manuscripts using LaTeX or Word, adhering to strict formatting guidelines, including the use of Système Internationale (SI) units and a structured summary followed by three to six keywords selected from a predefined list for indexing purposes.
With a strong impact factor (2.8, Q2 in Geochemistry & Geophysics) and a high H-index (190), GJI is a cornerstone of geophysical research, recognized for its contributions to major scientific advancements, such as the development of plate tectonics theory. Its centennial collection highlights influential papers that have shaped the field, including works on mantle viscosity, marine geophysics, and seismic hazard estimation. GJI remains a vital platform for researchers seeking to publish impactful, reproducible, and broadly relevant geophysical studies
