Name: Tectonics
Link: agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19449194
Description: Tectonics is a peer-reviewed journal of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) that publishes original research on the evolution, structure, and deformation of Earth’s lithosphere across geologic time scales.
Key Words: tectonics, lithosphere, deformation, structural geology, geodynamics, geophysical studies, multidisciplinary research, plate tectonics, earthquake hazards, open access
Introduction:
Tectonics, published by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) with editorial collaboration from the European Geosciences Union, is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the understanding of the evolution, structure, and deformation of Earth’s lithosphere. Established to provide a platform for high-impact original research, Tectonics welcomes contributions from diverse fields, including field-based studies, laboratory experiments, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, geophysics, remote sensing, and numerical modeling. The journal’s multidisciplinary approach encourages studies that integrate multiple methodologies to address complex tectonic processes across all geologic time scales, from the Precambrian to the present.
The journal focuses on research that describes and explains the dynamic processes shaping Earth’s lithosphere, such as continental rifting, orogenesis, faulting, folding, and plate boundary interactions. Recent articles have explored topics like the exhumation of the western Tauern Window, the role of mobile shales in the Niger Delta, and the tectonic evolution of microcontinents influenced by plume activity. These studies highlight Tectonics’ commitment to publishing innovative research that addresses both regional and global tectonic frameworks, often with implications for earthquake hazard assessments and resource exploration. For example, studies on the Arabian plate’s motion using GNSS measurements underscore the journal’s relevance to understanding active tectonics and associated hazards.
Tectonics offers a robust submission process through Wiley’s online platform, requiring detailed abstracts (up to 300 words) that outline research objectives, methods, and key findings. The journal supports three types of contributions: regular papers, fast-track papers for rapid communication of innovative findings (reviewed within three weeks), and comprehensive invited review articles that synthesize significant topics. Special issues, guest-edited by leading researchers, are also a hallmark, focusing on specific themes like tectono-sedimentary evolution or craton dynamics. The journal’s single-anonymized review process ensures rigorous evaluation by expert reviewers, maintaining high scientific standards.
Tectonics is committed to open science, offering an open-access option under Creative Commons licenses (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-NC) with an article processing charge (APC) of $4,070 USD, though Wiley Open Access Accounts may offset costs for eligible authors. This aligns with AGU’s broader mission to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in scientific publishing. The journal also encourages submissions that address pressing societal issues, such as geological hazards and resource development, reflecting its role in delivering solutions for a dynamic planet. With its global readership and high citation rates, Tectonics remains a pivotal resource for researchers studying the complex interplay of tectonic processes that shape Earth’s surface and subsurface.
