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Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (JGR: Atmospheres) is a premier peer-reviewed scientific journal published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Dedicated to atmospheric physics, chemistry, and dynamics, the journal operates under a hybrid publishing model with single-blind peer review and strict data-sharing mandates.
What it is
The Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres is an international scholarly journal publishing research across atmospheric sciences. Originally part of the historic Journal of Geophysical Research series founded in 1896, the atmospheric division was established as a distinct section in February 1984 (Volume 89, Issue D1; NLM Unique ID: 9882986). In archival collections, it was designated Section D and known as the “purple-covered section.”
The serial covers atmospheric chemistry, radiative transfer, boundary layer dynamics, climate variations, and atmospheric-biospheric exchanges. Every paper receives a persistent Digital Object Identifier (DOI) through Crossref, where the journal maintains over 12,060 indexed records. It embeds author ORCID identifiers, funding metadata, and Crossmark update policies across all published articles.
| Journal Feature | Official Specification | Verified Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Title | Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres | NLM Catalog (ID: 9882986); Crossref |
| Abbreviations | JGR: Atmospheres; J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. | ISO 4 / MedlineTA |
| Publisher & Society | American Geophysical Union (AGU) / John Wiley & Sons | AGU Publications Portal |
| Foundation Date | February 20, 1984 (Volume 89, Issue D1) | NLM Serial Record |
| ISSNs | Print: 2169-897X; Electronic: 2169-8996 | Crossref Deposit Record |
| Editor-in-Chief | Dr. Yafang Cheng (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry) | AGU Editorial Board (Appointed Jan 2023) |
| Impact Factor (JIF) | 3.8 (2023 JCR); 3.4 (2024 JCR); 5-Year JIF ~4.5 | Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (SCIE) |
| JCR Quartile | Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences (Q2) | Web of Science Group |
| Scopus Ranking | Q1 in Atmospheric Science (SJR ~1.56) | Scopus Serial Index |
| Access Model | Hybrid (Subscription + CC-BY OnlineOpen) | AGU Open Access Policy |
| Peer Review | Single-blind peer review via eJournalPress | AGU Guidelines |
Who runs it and what it covers
The journal is governed jointly by the American Geophysical Union (AGU)—a non-profit scientific society founded in 1919—and publisher John Wiley & Sons. The editorial team is led by Editor-in-Chief Dr. Yafang Cheng of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (appointed January 2023), supported by an international board of Editors and Associate Editors.
The scope of JGR: Atmospheres covers atmospheric processes from surface boundary layers to the upper atmosphere:
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols: Gas-phase kinetics, aerosol formation, air pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, and aerosol-radiation interactions.
- Atmospheric Dynamics and Meteorology: General circulation, planetary waves, synoptic storm systems, mesoscale phenomena, and boundary-layer turbulence.
- Radiation, Clouds, and Precipitation: Radiative transfer, cloud microphysics, feedback mechanisms, precipitation formation, and lightning physics.
- Climate Dynamics and Earth System Interactions: Coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice interactions, land-atmosphere fluxes, decadal climate variability, and global atmospheric modeling.
Articles represent standard scholarly journal article types, including comprehensive Research Articles, Review Articles, and Technical Comments. Authors evaluating venue reach can examine what it means for a journal to be indexed in Web of Science, Scopus, GeoRef, and INSPEC. Researchers tracking evaluation metrics can consult how to look up a journal impact factor and evaluate disciplinary rank via journal impact factor and quartile rankings.
How to search or use it
Researchers interact with JGR: Atmospheres through six structured workflows established by AGU and Wiley:
- Search the Archive on Wiley Online Library: Access the journal hub on Wiley Online Library. Search by keyword, author, or DOI to review recent issues, Early View articles, and thematic Special Collections.
- Audit Length Against the 25 Publication Unit (PU) Limit: Calculate length using AGU’s formula: one Publication Unit (PU) equals 500 words or one display element (table or figure). The 25 PU limit includes main text, abstract, acknowledgments, citations, captions, and appendices. Titles, affiliations, key points, Plain Language Summaries, references, and open research sections are exempt. Overlength manuscripts incur a $125 fee per additional PU.
- Draft the Mandatory Plain Language Summary (PLS): JGR: Atmospheres requires all submissions to include a 200-word Plain Language Summary explaining the research question, core findings, and societal value in clear, non-specialist terminology.
- Prepare a Compliant Data Availability Statement: Per AGU FAIR data policies, manuscripts require an Open Research section containing a data availability statement. Observational datasets and simulation codes must be archived in persistent public repositories (e.g., Zenodo, Dryad, PANGAEA) with DOIs.
- Submit via the AGU eJournalPress Portal: Authors log into eJournalPress using ORCID credentials to upload manuscript files formatted with AGU templates, specify subject categories, suggest reviewers, and provide ethical disclosures.
- Navigate Peer Review and Production Licensing: Submitted papers undergo single-blind peer review overseen by an assigned Editor and independent reviewers. Upon acceptance, authors select subscription publication (~$1,000 base fee) or Gold open access via OnlineOpen ($4,190 APC, covered under institutional Transformative agreements).
Strengths and limits
Evaluating JGR: Atmospheres requires balancing its established standing against procedural and financial considerations.
Strengths
- Disciplinary Authority: Widely recognized benchmark serial in atmospheric and climate sciences, carrying high weight in academic reviews.
- Rigorous FAIR Data Standards: Mandatory Open Research policies ensure research datasets and software are openly archived and verifiable.
- Global Readership: Distribution through Wiley institutional licenses provides worldwide availability across academic libraries.
- Longitudinal Archive: Over four decades of continuous publication since 1984 provides a substantial archive of atmospheric observations.
Limits
- 25 PU Length Ceiling: Sizing rules require concise presentations; extensive workflows must move to Supporting Information or incur $125/PU fees.
- Hybrid Fee Structure: Subscription papers incur a ~$1,000 base fee unless authors pay the ~$4,190 Gold Open Access APC or receive an institutional waiver.
- Targeted Disciplinary Scope: Papers lacking atmospheric physical or chemical mechanisms are redirected to sister journals like Geophysical Research Letters or JGR: Planets.
Alternatives
Atmospheric researchers evaluate journals based on turnaround time, peer-review openness, open-access mandates, and scope:
| Journal Title | Publisher / Society | Access Model & Fees | Peer Review | Primary Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JGR: Atmospheres | AGU / Wiley | Hybrid (Base fee ~$1,000; Gold OA ~$4,190) | Single-blind | Atmospheric physics, chemistry, dynamics, and Earth system interactions. |
| Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP) | Copernicus / EGU | Gold OA (Page-based APCs, ~€75–€115/page) | Two-stage open review | Atmospheric chemical and physical processes from gas phase to aerosols. |
| Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences (JAS) | AMS | Hybrid (Page charges + optional OA fee) | Single-blind | Dynamics and fluid mechanics of planetary atmospheres. |
| Atmospheric Environment | Elsevier | Hybrid (Subscription fee-free; OA APC ~$4,020) | Single-blind | Air pollution, emission control, aerosol characterization, and air quality. |
| Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) | AGU / Wiley | Hybrid (Letter format, max 12 PUs; OA APC ~$3,950) | Expedited single-blind | Short, high-impact research letters with broad cross-disciplinary urgency. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between JGR Atmospheres and the Journal of Geophysical Research?
The Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres is a specialized section of the broader Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR) serial. Founded in 1896 as Terrestrial Magnetism, JGR expanded across the 20th century. In 1984, the AGU split the journal into dedicated disciplinary sections (Section A: Space Physics, Section B: Solid Earth, Section C: Oceans, Section D: Atmospheres) to accommodate expanding literature with focused editorial boards.
What is the current Impact Factor of JGR Atmospheres?
According to Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports, JGR: Atmospheres holds a 2023 Journal Impact Factor of 3.8 and a 2024 Impact Factor of 3.4, with a 5-Year Impact Factor of approximately 4.5. The journal ranks in Quartile 2 (Q2) of the Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences category in Web of Science and Quartile 1 (Q1) in Scopus SCImago evaluations.
Does JGR Atmospheres require a Plain Language Summary?
Yes. JGR: Atmospheres requires all research article submissions to include a 200-word Plain Language Summary (PLS) alongside the technical abstract. The summary explains the research question, core findings, and societal value without specialized jargon.
How does AGU calculate manuscript length for JGR: Atmospheres?
AGU measures manuscript size using Publication Units (PUs), where one PU equals 500 words of text or one display item (figure or table). Research articles are allowed up to 25 PUs without overlength fees. The word count includes main text, abstract, acknowledgments, citations, and captions, while excluding titles, author lists, key points, Plain Language Summaries, references, and open research disclosures. Excess units incur a fee of $125 per PU.
Is JGR Atmospheres an open access journal?
JGR: Atmospheres is a hybrid journal. Authors may publish under the subscription track (carrying a standard base publication fee of approximately $1,000) or select Gold Open Access through Wiley’s OnlineOpen program. Gold Open Access requires an Article Processing Charge (APC) of approximately $4,190 under a Creative Commons license (CC-BY), which is frequently funded through institutional Read-and-Publish transformative agreements.
Sources
- American Geophysical Union. “Author Resources, Sizing Guidelines, and Open Research Policies.” AGU Publications, read November 9, 2026. https://www.agu.org/publish-with-agu
- American Geophysical Union & John Wiley & Sons. “Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres Overview.” Wiley Online Library, read November 9, 2026. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/21698996
- National Library of Medicine. “NLM Catalog: Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres (NLM Unique ID: 9882986).” NCBI, read November 9, 2026. https://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/esummary.fcgi?db=nlmcatalog&id=9882986
- Crossref. “Serial Record for ISSN 2169-8996: Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres.” Crossref REST API, read November 9, 2026. https://api.crossref.org/journals/2169-8996
- Clarivate. “Journal Citation Reports: JGR: Atmospheres (Science Citation Index Expanded).” Web of Science Group, read November 9, 2026.
