Aims: Descriptive Summary
"Key data sets and observations" means: data and observations that either reveal previously unobserved phenomena, and/or that are critical to understand geophysical processes. New (novel) data and observations fulfill the aims of ESS. New (additional) data and observations adding to an existing knowledge base also fulfill the aims of the journal, provided the volume of new data is significant and that the enlarged data sets enable a novel interpretation, fill a gap in knowledge, or contribute to narrowing the field of possible interpretations. In the specific context of ESS, a significant volume of data involves a high number of data points: using geochemistry as an example, the analysis of several tens (> 30-50) of rock and mineral samples represents an acceptable data volume, but a report on hundreds of microanalytical results carried out on a handful of mineral phases from a few (< 20) samples, does not, unless the analytical methods are novel, unique, or can be carried out only in a number of specific high-tech laboratories in the world.
"Novel methods" means: any new or significantly modified tool that allows to extract information from data sets, or to validate data products, so long as the process of validation adds new insight to the use of the products and to the interpretation of results, or corrects errors. Examples of novel methods are processing algorithms and statistical analysis techniques that present non-obvious solutions thus allowing new interpretations of data products. Tweaking of existing code falls into this definition only if it results in adding to the insights that can be gained by routine processing of data sets, or in the simplification of processing and analysis that could open the use of the data products to a broader community (end-users, including other scientists): these benefits should be explicitly mentioned in the manuscript, and contrasted to the effectiveness of existing methodologies. New or modified code, processing, and analytical methods, that are not obviously linked to workflow improvements, but that make a clear case as to them being the first step in the future development of techniques that achieve the purpose of simplifying processing and interpretation of data products, also fulfill the aims of the journal. However, manuscripts that describe a method, even if they contain the development of the theoretical principles that underpin it, but that do not present an example of application to geoscience as per the above description, should be submitted elsewhere: this includes "black box" machine / deep-learning manuscripts, even if the context of the study may be considered, directly or indirectly, to be relevant to geoscience, now or in the foreseeable future.
Scope: Descriptive Summary
"Earth" means: solid Earth (core, mantle, crust), hydrosphere (oceans, freshwater, groundwater, meteoric water, hydrothermal waters - any origin, and critical zone), cryosphere, atmosphere (from the surface to the exosphere), ionosphere and magnetosphere. The biosphere is included in the definition when it is an essential part of a biogeochemical cycle or system, or if it is part of a stratigraphic study (e.g., paleontology).
"Space" means: the heliosphere, planets (excluding Earth), moons, asteroids, meteorites, dust, magnetic fields, solar wind, exoplanets, and space physics processes. Within scope are also reports on mission spacecraft and experiments that collect data from Earth and solar system objects, aimed at answering scientific questions about the same. Descriptions of experiment proof-of-concept (e.g., payload design and testing) are also within scope, provided they are linked to a space mission, either proposed or at planning stage. Descriptions of new mission architectures and concepts that significantly advance geoscience are within scope.
"Science" (within the context of ESS) means: research that aims to understand the geophysical processes underpinning observed phenomena within the Earth and space domains as defined above. This means any research that proceeds by acquiring evidence (observations, data, real or simulated) through the application of a methodology (field, lab, computer-based), and interpreting such evidence by deductive, inductive, or abductive reasoning. In the specific context of ESS, interpretations focusing on the causes of observed phenomena (local scale), or furnishing a theoretical advance (global scale), are both within scope.
Authors will be asked to select from the following disciplinary subsets when submitting their manuscript to ESS:
Concluding remarks
It is understood that the boundaries between Earth and space spheres are blurred and may occasionally appear vague. Papers that straddle across the specific definitions provided are within scope of the journal, if they fulfill its aims as described above. If unsure, authors are encouraged to contact the Editor in Chief for a preliminary query about the suitability of a manuscript for the journal.
To ensure prompt evaluation of the suitability of a manuscript for Earth and Space Science, inclusion of a cover letter addressing how the manuscript fulfills the aims and is within scope of the journal is strongly recommended.
Editor in Chief: Graziella Caprarelli
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