YOUNG JOURNAL, BIG IMPACTThe Remarkable Trajectory of Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

When Springer Nature launched Nature Reviews Earth & Environment in 2020, the earth sciences community was already well-served by established review journals. Yet Nature Reviews Earth & Environment found its footing almost immediately, carving out a distinctive editorial identity that bridges atmospheric science, oceanography, geology, hydrology, cryospheric science, and planetary science. Just a few years after its debut, the journal has achieved an impact factor of 18.3 — a figure that many mature journals in the field have never reached.

This rapid ascent reflects both the exceptional quality of the reviews Nature Reviews Earth & Environment publishes and the timeliness of its subject matter. As climate change intensifies, as extreme weather events become more frequent, and as society grapples with the environmental consequences of industrialization, the need for authoritative, integrative reviews in the earth sciences has never been greater. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment has positioned itself at the center of this discourse. The journal’s ISSN is 2662-138X.

BIBLIOMETRIC PROFILEThe Numbers Behind Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

An impact factor of 18.3 may appear modest when compared to the triple-digit values achieved by some Nature Reviews titles in biomedicine. But within the earth sciences, where citation cultures tend to be smaller and more specialized, 18.3 is a genuinely impressive figure. It places Nature Reviews Earth & Environment comfortably in the top tier of geosciences review journals and signals to authors that their work will reach a large, engaged readership.

The CiteScore of 22.5 from Scopus uses a broader four-year window and confirms that Nature Reviews Earth & Environment articles maintain their citation relevance over time. This is particularly important in earth science, where the foundational nature of many review topics means that articles can serve as reference works for many years after publication. The SJR of 5.8 further indicates that citations come from selective, well-regarded journals — not merely from low-impact publications seeking to pad their reference lists.

EDITORIAL SCOPEWhat Nature Reviews Earth & Environment Publishes

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment publishes commissioned review articles that synthesize and critically evaluate the most important developments across the earth and environmental sciences. Coverage spans atmospheric science and climate dynamics, oceanography and marine systems, geology and geophysics, hydrology and water resources, cryospheric science, biogeochemistry, natural hazards, planetary science, and the human dimensions of global environmental change.

The journal distinguishes itself through a commitment to accessibility. Earth science reviews are often written for narrow specialist audiences, limiting their broader impact. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment actively seeks reviews that communicate complex geoscience to interdisciplinary readers — including policymakers, journalists, and researchers from adjacent fields — without sacrificing scientific depth.

SCOPUS & SCHOLAR METRICSThe Full Citation Picture

The h-index of 28 is striking for a journal that has been publishing for only a few years. To accumulate 28 highly cited papers in such a short period indicates that Nature Reviews Earth & Environment has achieved an extraordinary “hit rate” — a high proportion of its published articles become major reference points in their fields. This metric suggests that the journal’s editorial selection process is exceptionally effective at identifying topics and authors with maximum citation potential.

Looking ahead, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment appears well-positioned for continued growth. As earth science research increasingly intersects with climate policy, energy transition, and environmental management, the demand for integrative, authoritative reviews will only increase. The journal’s Springer Nature backing ensures global visibility and the editorial resources needed to maintain its high standards.

WRITING FOR NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENTAuthor Guidance

Prospective authors should note that Nature Reviews Earth & Environment primarily publishes commissioned reviews. The editorial team identifies emerging topics of broad importance and invites leading researchers to contribute comprehensive syntheses. Authors with ideas for review topics are encouraged to submit a brief proposal outlining the scope, significance, and target audience.

The most successful reviews in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment combine disciplinary depth with interdisciplinary breadth. They feature clear, jargon-free writing, high-quality visual materials (maps, cross-sections, process diagrams), and explicit discussion of societal relevance. Reviews that merely summarize recent papers without offering new synthesis or insight are unlikely to be successful.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSFAQ About Nature Reviews Earth & Environment