Publication Ethics and Misconduct

Computers in Earth Science Letters (CESL) is a peer‑reviewed journal. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in publishing articles in CESL, including authors, the Editor‑in‑Chief, the Editorial Board, peer reviewers, and publishers. This policy is based on the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

Guidelines for Journal Publication Ethics

Articles in CESL represent essential contributions to the development of a coherent and respected knowledge network in Earth sciences and computational methods. Peer‑reviewed publications embody the scientific method and reflect the quality of research conducted by authors and their institutions. All parties involved in the publishing process are expected to adhere to high standards of ethical behavior, including authors, editors, reviewers, publishers, and the wider public.

CESL’s publisher is committed to maintaining the integrity of all stages of publication and ensures that commercial considerations, such as advertising or reprint revenue, do not influence editorial decisions.

Alleged Research Misconduct

Violations such as falsification, fabrication, plagiarism, manipulation of citations, or other unethical practices in research, writing, or reviewing are considered serious offenses. When research misconduct is suspected or confirmed, the Editor has the responsibility to protect the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record.

In cases of suspected violations, the Editors and Editorial Board follow COPE guidelines to investigate and resolve complaints fairly. Possible actions include rejection of submissions, corrections, or retraction of published articles.

Publication Decisions

The Editor, guided by the Editorial Board and legal requirements (e.g., copyright, defamation, plagiarism), makes the final decision on which articles are accepted for publication.

Complaints and Appeals

CESL provides a clear process for handling complaints concerning the journal, its Editorial Staff, Editorial Board, or Publisher. Complaints are processed according to COPE best practices.

Post‑Publication Discussion

CESL encourages scholarly debate after publication, either via the journal website, letters to the Editor, or moderated external forums.

Fair Play

Manuscripts are evaluated solely on intellectual content, independent of authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or political beliefs.

Confidentiality

Editors and staff must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts except to authors, reviewers, prospective reviewers, editorial advisors, and publishers as necessary.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Unpublished material in submitted manuscripts must not be used by editors or reviewers in their own research without written permission from the authors.

Data Sharing Policy

CESL supports open and reproducible research. Authors are encouraged to share research data, including raw and processed data, software, algorithms, protocols, methods, and materials, to facilitate verification and reproducibility.

Duties of Reviewers

  • Contribute to Editorial Decisions: Assist editors in decision-making and help improve manuscripts.

  • Appropriateness: Decline review if unqualified or unavailable.

  • Confidentiality: Treat manuscripts as confidential.

  • Objectivity: Provide unbiased, well-justified reviews.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Identify relevant work not cited by authors.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Avoid reviewing manuscripts where conflicts exist.

Duties of Authors

  • Reporting Standards: Present accurate and transparent accounts of research.

  • Originality and Plagiarism: Ensure originality and proper citation.

  • Multiple Submissions: Do not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.

  • Acknowledgment of Sources: Properly acknowledge the work of others.

  • Authorship: Only those making significant contributions should be listed as authors.

  • Conflicts of Interest: Disclose all financial or other relevant conflicts.

  • Errors in Published Work: Promptly inform the journal of significant errors.

  • Ethical Oversight: Research involving humans, animals, or hazardous materials must comply with recognized ethical standards and approvals.