About the Journal

Focus and Scope of the Journal

Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Geographica Physica has been published by the Lodz University Press since 1997.

The thematic scope of the published works is in the field of Earth and environmental sciences, and in particular includes: geomorphology, geoecology, geology and palaeogeography of the Quaternary, meteorology and climatology, environmental protection and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in environmental research. The studied natural phenomena and objects are presented in various time and spatial ranges - from global to interesting local examples. Sometimes the issues of socio-economic geography are taken into account. The journal is dedicated in particular to young researchers. Scientific papers are printed in Polish with an English summary or in English with a Polish summary.

The main aim of the journal is to publish peer-reviewed scientific articles presenting the results of original empirical, theoretical, methodological or analytical research. In justified cases, other works are published, including: scientific reports (announcements), valuable research data, conference materials, reviews, as well as memories, biographies and reports on important events in the world of Earth sciences and the environment.

The original (reference) version of the journal Acta Universitatis Lawodsis. Folia Geographica Physica is an online version, published in PDF format. The files of the works, marked with an identification number (DOI, older ones signed with URI), are placed on the server of the Repository of the University of Lodz. Currently, all publications of the journal are available in Open Access under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license (Attribution - Non-Commercial Use - No Derivatives).

The journal is published once a year with an exception to special issues.

All the journal's publications are available online.

Journals scoring by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education: 40 points (July 2023)

Publisher: Lodz University Press

Alternative website of the journal (information available only in Polish): Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Geographica Physica

 

The history of Acta Universitatis Lodziesis. Folia Geographica Physica

In the years 1997–2011 Acta Universitatis Lodziesis. Folia Geographica Physica appeared irregularly. Only 11 issues of the journal were published. These publications include the scientific monographs, principally doctoral dissertations and selections of articles authored by various researchers. The journal was available only in print. Currently, all the issues are digitalised and archived on the University of Lodz online repository.

The Editorial Board declares that online and print editions are completely compatible.

The journal is issued yearly since 2013 and serves as an outlet primarily to present peer-reviewed articles that are the result of empirical, theoretical, technical or analytical research. Other texts such as short scientific notes, conference materials, book reviews, and reports from major events in the field of physical geography and related sciences could also be published in particular cases.

Amount of research and review articles which were published last year: 5

Publisher: Lodz University Press

Website of the journal: Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Geographica Physica

Review Process 

The scientific review process begins with the submission of an application for an opinion on a scientific text, and ends with the final decision on it, and is coordinated by the journal editor dedicated to a given process.

In the first stage, the editorial office performs a formal evaluation of the text, and then appoints two independent reviewers affiliated outside the research unit from which the author (s) of the article comes. The review process follows the double-blind review process model, in which the authors of articles and reviewers do not know each other’s identity.

Reviews are made in writing (the Editorial Board has an appropriate review form) and end with an unambiguous conclusion regarding the approval of the article for publication or its rejection.

All reviewers should meet the following requirements:

  • no conflict of interest with the authors (where a conflict of interest is considered to be the direct personal relationships between the reviewer and the author: second degree relationship, legal relationships, marriage, relationships of professional subordination or direct scientific cooperation in the last two years preceding the year of preparation reviews)
  • having at least a doctoral degree
  • showing current publications on a specific topic

In addition, they should:

  • have the necessary knowledge to assess the quality of a given article
  • uphold standards of professionalism and ethics
  • enjoy an unblemished reputation as a scientist

Additionally, they cannot be members of the editorial office or scientific council of the journal.

Reviewers who accept the invitation to review are requested to submit their review within 3 weeks. An extension of this period may be obtained upon request.

In order to improve the review process, employees of WUŁ are in constant contact with reviewers, authors and editors.

The reviewer’s comments are then forwarded to the author. The rational and motivated conclusions presented in the review are binding for the author. He is obliged to take into account the recommendations of the reviewers and correct the text. Reviewers have the right to reverify the corrected text. If the author of the text does not agree with the conclusions of the reviewer, he has the right to present his editorial position in a polemical note.

Revised versions of articles may be sent to reviewers depending on whether they want to see the current version. All reviewers can access the latest version of the text via the OJS platform.

The decision to publish the text is made by the editor-in-chief after consulting the editorial board and, possibly, the scientific council, on the basis of an analysis of comments and conclusions contained in the reviews, together with any polemics of the author of the text and the final version of the text provided by the author, checking:

  • proper selection of reviewers
  • adequacy of reviewers’ opinions and the author’s attitude to them
  • the overall scientific quality of the article

Reviewers are obliged to confidentiality in their opinions on the reviewed article and not to use the knowledge gained on this occasion before its publication.

The editor issues an unambiguous decision regarding the approval of the article for publication or its rejection.

The names of the reviewers of individual articles are not disclosed. The list of reviewers cooperating with the journal is published on the journal’s website once a year.

The reviewing procedure complies with the recommendations of the booklet Good Practices in Review Procedures in Science (MNiSzW, Warsaw 2011) and the COPE standards.

Reviews are prepared in writing, drafted by a special form:

  • Polish version for download: PDF
  • English version for download:  PDF

 

Open Access Policy

All articles are published in Open Access and use open license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Attribution – Non-Commercial – No Derivative Works).

The journal has been available in Open Access since 2013 (see: archival issues in the University of Lodz Repository). First issue published in OJS in 2017 (see: Archives).

The Author grants the University of Lodz the non-exclusive proprietary copyrights license for the work in all fields of exploitation listed in Art. 50 of the Act of February 4, 1994 about copyright and related rights, also by an open access (including the rules of the Creative Commons license BY-NC-ND). The license also includes the right for further sublicensing in the aforementioned fields of exploitation. See: Copyright Notice

Due to the implementation of the policy of open access to science works, the University of Lodz uses the Author’s right to deposit the work in the Repository of the University of Lodz and other distribution platforms, and the Author notes not to terminate the license agreement throughout its duration. See: Author Declaration Form

Personal copyrights are not transferable. Granting the license does not take away the property rights from the author.

License allows to copy and distribute the work in any medium provided an appropriate credit is given – you must provide the name of the creator and attribution parties, a copyright notice, a license notice, a disclaimer notice, and the link to the material, a link to the license, and you must indicate the changes made.

You are allowed to disseminate, present, and search for works only for non-commercial purposes and as long as you go for exploitation. You should not improve the modified content, which has been processed or created from the original new work (derivative work).

Full text of the license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode

Privacy policy

The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.