— Ch. 1 · Founding Vision And Origins —
Climatic Change (journal).
~2 min read · Ch. 1 of 5
The year 1977 marked the birth of Climatic Change, a new scientific journal created by Stephen H. Schneider. Schneider envisioned a dedicated space for cross-disciplinary work on all aspects of climate change and variability. Before this publication existed, research on the topic was scattered across various fields without a unified home. The initial mission focused on bringing together diverse perspectives to understand shifting weather patterns and long-term environmental shifts. This founding moment established a platform that would grow into a central hub for climate science discourse.
Editorial Leadership Evolution
Michael Oppenheimer now serves as editor-in-chief at Princeton University alongside Gary Yohe from Wesleyan University. These two leaders guide the journal through its current phase of development and strategic direction. Their tenure represents a continuation of the editorial legacy started by founder Stephen H. Schneider in 1977. The transition from Schneider's original leadership to the current team reflects changes in both academic priorities and global climate concerns over decades. Each editor brings specific expertise to manage the flow of submissions and maintain scholarly standards.Publication Frequency And Scope
Climatic Change operates on a biweekly release schedule throughout the calendar year. This frequent output allows researchers to share findings on climate variability faster than monthly or quarterly journals permit. The scope covers every aspect of climate change including atmospheric physics, oceanography, policy analysis, and ecological impacts. Cross-disciplinary work remains the core requirement for acceptance within these pages. Authors must demonstrate how their research connects different scientific domains rather than isolating single variables.