Manuscript types

The following types of manuscripts can be considered for peer-reviewed publication in Earth Observation (EO):

Research articles report substantial and original scientific results within the journal's scope. Generally, these are expected to be within 12 journal pages, have appropriate figures and/or tables, a maximum of 80 references, and an abstract of 150–250 words.
EO Letters are research articles that report particularly important results and major advances in atmospheric chemistry and physics in a concise and engaging style. Letters have fewer than 2,500 words in the main text, 200 words in the abstract, and an appropriate number of figures, or tables, and references. The discussion period for Letters is 4 weeks rather than 6 weeks for other articles and they are directly assigned to editors to reduce the overall time to publication. For more information, see the instructions for authors. Papers accepted for final publication as EO Letters will also become "Highlight articles", which have high visibility in EGU. EO Letters are also eligible for inclusion in EGU Letters. Manuscripts submitted for consideration as EO Letters are subject to regular peer review with interactive public discussion, and the selection procedure is overseen by the EO co-editors-in-chief.
Review articles summarize the status of knowledge and outline future directions of research within the journal scope. These articles do not have a required page limit or maximum number of references, should include appropriate figures and/or tables as well as a concise abstract. Before preparing and submitting a review article, please contact an editor covering the relevant subject area and the chief or managing executive editor. The manuscript title must start with "Review article:". Depending on the subject and further characteristics, review articles are also eligible for inclusion in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences. If you are interested in this option, please see the author instructions and contact the editors of the encyclopedia.
Technical notes report new developments, significant advances, and novel aspects of experimental and theoretical methods and techniques which are relevant for scientific investigations within the journal scope. Highly detailed and specific technical information such as computer programme code or user manuals can be included as electronic supplements.
Brief communications are timely, peer-reviewed, and short (2–4 journal pages). These may be used to (a) report new developments, significant advances, and novel aspects of experimental and theoretical methods and techniques which are relevant for scientific investigations within the journal scope; (b) report/discuss on significant matters of policy and perspective related to the science of the journal, including "personal" commentary; and (c) disseminate information and data on topical events of significant scientific and/or social interest within the scope of the journal. Brief communications have a maximum of 3 figures and/or tables, a maximum of 20 references, and an abstract length not exceeding 100 words. The manuscript title must start with "Brief communication:".
LESSONS Reports (Limitations, Errors, Surprises, Shortcomings, Opportunities for New Science) are peer-reviewed publications that document a well-substantiated finding that is not a classic 'positive' result, perhaps non-confirmatory, or revealing methodological limitations: a 'lesson learnt'. Unforeseen complications in investigations, plausible methods that failed, unexpectedly null results, and technical issues are also in scope. A LESSONS Report should offer a substantial insight with some broader relevance within the selected journal's scope. LESSONS Reports normally have 1,000–2,000 words in the main text, 100 words in the abstract, and a commensurate number of figures, tables, and references. This length is suggested to limit the extent and depth to which the subject needs to be explored. Abstracts must include a sentence stating how the work aligns with the description of LESSONS, specifying its link to the LESSONS acronym, and spelling the acronym out. For more information and context on LESSONS Reports, see the GC Editorial.
Perspectives form an occasional series of solicited reports on topical and/or emerging fields of research of particular interest, authored by leading experts in the discipline. They may include a commentary element.
Special issue editorial: special issues may include an introductory article or an overview article (or both). Introductory articles outline the motivation and background, and overview articles synthesize and summarize the findings of the special issue papers. The manuscript title must clearly reflect the relation to the special issue and should normally start with "Introduction:" or "Overview:"
Comments (and replies thereon) continue the discussion of papers published in EO beyond the limits of immediate interactive discussion. They may be longer and submitted later than the comments exchanged in the interactive public discussion of preprints. They undergo the same process of peer review, publication, and interactive discussion as articles and technical notes and are equivalent to the peer-reviewed comments and replies in traditional scientific journals. The manuscript title should start with "Comment on" or "Reply to".
Corrigenda correct errors in preceding papers. The manuscript title reads as follows: Corrigendum to "TITLE" published in JOURNAL, VOLUME, PAGES, YEAR. Please note that corrigenda are only possible for final revised journal papers and not for the corresponding preprint. Corrigenda have to be submitted to Copernicus Publications within 3 years from the publication date of the original journal article. Should there be reasons for publishing a second corrigendum within these 3 years, the first one will be substituted by a single new corrigendum containing all relevant corrections. Corrigenda should be sent by email to the handling topic editor. A submission via the manuscript submission form is not possible.