Swiss Journal of Geosciences

Swiss Journal of Geosciences
Title	Swiss Journal of Geosciences
Discipline	Geology, Earth sciences
Language	English, German, French
Publisher	EAGE, Swiss Geological Society
Country	Switzerland
History	1850–present
Frequency	Quarterly

Swiss Journal of Geosciences is a peer-reviewed scientific journal focused on the geology and Earth science research relevant to Switzerland and the Alpine region. It serves as a forum connecting researchers affiliated with institutions such as ETH Zurich, University of Geneva, University of Bern, EPFL, and University of Lausanne and engages with international organizations including the European Geosciences Union, International Union of Geological Sciences, and Geological Society of London. The journal publishes articles that address topics from regional stratigraphy to tectonics and glaciology, attracting contributions from scientists associated with CNRS, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, INRIM, and other prominent institutes.

History

The journal traces its origins to 19th-century publications associated with the Swiss Alpine Club and national societies such as the Swiss Geological Society and the Helvetic Society. Throughout its history it has reflected debates connected to the work of figures like Gustav Steinmann, Albert Heim, Eduard Suess, and institutions such as Natural History Museum, Bern and University of Zurich. In the 20th century the journal documented research linked to events and projects including the construction of the Gotthard Tunnel, the mapping efforts of the Federal Office of Topography (swisstopo), and alpine expeditions tied to Siegfried Pass. Later collaborations brought editorial ties to international journals such as Journal of Structural Geology and Tectonophysics. The period of European research integration after the Treaty of Rome and during initiatives like Horizon 2020 influenced cross-border studies and special issues on topics including the Pleistocene glaciations and the Alpine orogeny.

Scope and Topics

The journal covers stratigraphy, tectonics, sedimentology, paleontology, geochemistry, geochronology, glaciology, hydrogeology, and applied geology relevant to the Alps, the Jura Mountains, and the Swiss Plateau. Typical studies engage with regional features such as the Aletsch Glacier, the Matterhorn, and the Rhône Glacier, and with broader phenomena like the European Alpine System, Mediterranean tectonics, and North Atlantic climate teleconnections. Contributors often come from projects linked to International Continental Scientific Drilling Program, European Seismological Commission, and environmental programs related to United Nations Environment Programme initiatives. The journal also addresses applied issues intersecting with infrastructure projects like the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, water management tied to the Rhone River, and natural hazards exemplified by events such as the Valais landslides or the 1991 Mount Meager landslide context used for comparison.

Publication and Editorial Information

Published quarterly, the journal maintains editorial standards aligned with publishers including Springer Nature and comparable practices at Elsevier and Wiley-Blackwell. The editorial board has included scholars affiliated with Università della Svizzera italiana, University of Fribourg, University of Neuchâtel, and research centers like European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Peer review procedures reference guidelines similar to those of COPE and indexing policies paralleling CrossRef and DOAJ registration practices. The journal accepts original research articles, review papers, short communications, and thematic special issues coordinated with societies such as the Swiss Academy of Sciences and international conferences like the International Geological Congress.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is abstracted and indexed in major services comparable to Web of Science, Scopus, GeoRef, and specialist repositories used by PANGAEA and Zentralblatt MATH for cross-disciplinary datasets. Citations appear in bibliographies linked to projects at European Research Council and in national research assessments by agencies like the Swiss National Science Foundation. Abstracting practices ensure visibility in university libraries at institutions such as University of Basel and University of St. Gallen, and in consortia including WorldCat and the Open Archives Initiative framework.

Impact and Reception

The journal is recognized within communities studying the Alps and adjacent regions, contributing to debates involving the Alpine Fault, Molasse Basin, and the timing of Messinian salinity crisis-related deposits. Its articles have been cited in works by researchers associated with Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and national geological surveys like the British Geological Survey and US Geological Survey. Metrics for the journal are monitored alongside impact indicators from Journal Citation Reports and alternative metrics found in Altmetric trackers. The reception among policymakers and engineers is notable in contexts such as tunnel safety reports for Gotthard Base Tunnel operations and hazard mitigation plans tied to authorities like Federal Office for the Environment (Switzerland).

Notable Articles and Special Issues

Noteworthy contributions include syntheses on the Alpine orogeny that reference the work of Eduard Suess and Paul Niggli, paleoclimatic reconstructions tied to the Last Glacial Maximum, and studies on seismicity comparing the Valais and Ticino regions. Special issues have been organized around international meetings such as the European Geosciences Union General Assembly and the International Conference on Permafrost, and on thematic topics like glacier retreat, karst hydrology, and geochronological advances using methods linked to labs at Paul Scherrer Institute and Berner Kantonalbank-funded initiatives. Selected articles have influenced policy documents for alpine land use produced by cantonal authorities in Valais, Graubünden, and Vaud.

Category:Geology journals Category:Academic journals published in Switzerland