Introducing Research Letters to Boundary-Layer Meteorology

Abstract

For most of its 44 years, Boundary-Layer Meteorology has published Research Articles, Research Notes, and occasional Comments and Replies in hard-copy issues, but only in recent years has online publication become a reality. The online publication now precedes the appearance of articles in regular issues by several months and significantly expedites the delivery of new research results to journal readers. As of January 2015, in line with many science journals, includingmany of those published by Springer, we have added to our journal a new category of articles—Research Letters. This category is designed to provide a more rapid route to online publication with an initial review period of no more than one month. Boundary-Layer Meteorology now includes threemain sections—Research Letters,Research Articles, and Notes and Comments. As with its host publication, Research Letters serves as an outlet for the exchange of ideas among scientists representing a variety of disciplines, all with an interest in boundary-layer meteorology and working on related research problems. In addition to rapid online publication, accepted Research Letters will appear within regular issues of Boundary-Layer Meteorology ahead of Research Articles and Notes and Comments to signify the importance of Research Letters as prestigious scientific publications. The Research Letters section comprises short articles whose value is enhanced by rapid dissemination. They report on, (i) new findings of timely and compelling interest to the boundary-layer meteorological research community; (ii) notable early results from experimental, observational, model, and theoretical studies that are specifically suitable for brief communication; (iii) preliminary researchfindings likely to be highly valuable to the scientific community; (iv) significant extensions of earlier work. The Letters format is chosen, on the one hand, to ensure the immediate influence of the reported results on ongoing research and, on the other hand, to expose these results to prompt assessment by peers. This format underlies the potential of Research Letters to stimulate novel directions in boundary-layer meteorolog-