The Seismic Record
Link
www.seismosoc.org/publications/the-seismic-record/
Description
The Seismic Record (TSR) is an open-access, online-only journal publishing concise, high-impact, peer-reviewed articles in seismology and earthquake science, with rapid publication within 60 days of submission.
Key Words
open-access, seismology, earthquake science, rapid publication, peer-reviewed, short-form articles, high-impact
Introduction
The Seismic Record (TSR), launched in 2021 by the Seismological Society of America (SSA), is a fully open-access, online-only journal dedicated to advancing seismology and earthquake science through the rapid publication of high-quality, concise research articles. Designed to meet the global seismological community's need for timely dissemination of significant findings, TSR focuses on short-form papers, limited to approximately 3500 words and six typeset pages, ensuring a streamlined yet rigorous peer-review process with a target publication timeline of 60 days from submission. This rapid turnaround distinguishes TSR from its sister journals, the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA) and Seismological Research Letters (SRL), while complementing their broader scope by prioritizing brevity and impact.
TSR covers the entire spectrum of seismological science, including basic, applied, and theoretical research. It publishes papers on topics such as earthquake source physics, seismic hazard analysis, seismotectonics, Earth structure from crust to core, and emerging subfields like cryoseismology, environmental seismology, and planetary seismology. The journal is particularly suited for research addressing recent seismic events or topics of strong significance, such as the 2025 Mw 7.7 Myanmar and Mw 7.1 Tingri earthquakes, which have been highlighted in focus sections across SSA journals. By limiting article length and encouraging a focus on a single outstanding idea or finding, TSR enhances the visibility of published work within the scientific community and facilitates broader communication to media and the public.
The journal adheres to strict editorial standards to maintain quality without sacrificing speed. Manuscripts undergo rigorous peer review, with associate editors requesting reviewer responses within 10 business days and authors expected to revise within the same timeframe. Editorial decisions are typically made within two business days, supported by a dedicated team including Editor-in-Chief Keith Koper and a lean editorial board. TSR requires authors to include a 200-word abstract, a Declaration of Conflicts of Interest, and a Data and Resources Statement linking to publicly archived datasets, promoting transparency and reproducibility. Supplemental materials are accepted at the editor’s discretion but are not a substitute for content better suited to longer-form articles in BSSA or SRL.
Published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, TSR allows authors to retain copyright while ensuring free access to readers worldwide without subscription barriers. An Article Processing Charge (APC) supports its gold open-access model, with a special introductory rate noted for early submissions (e.g., $1750 in 2022). The journal is indexed in prestigious databases such as the Web of Science (Emerging Sources Citation Index), Scopus, and the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), affirming its adherence to high ethical and quality standards. With an Impact Factor of 4.70 in 2024 and an h-index of 15, TSR has quickly established itself as a high-impact platform for seismological research. Its inclusion in DOAJ and other indices enhances its visibility and credibility, making it a vital resource for researchers studying seismic phenomena and their societal implications.
