References Lists in AGU Publications
Reference Lists
Although reference lists are a standard part of every article, questions about what to include in
them and how to present the information continue to trouble authors. References to material
published electronically add a new dimension.
See the AGU Reference Style guide. [PDF]
The examples contained therein show how to list various types of information in reference lists
for AGU publications. For assistance in determining the proper format for an unusual
reference that does not fit one of the categories described here, authors should call AGU's author
information number: (202)-777-7354.
Materials to be included in a reference list
Articles, books, reports, papers presented at meetings, certain electronic material (CD-ROMs
and electronic publications), legal opinions, congressional bills, theses, maps, and similar
materials used by an author in preparing a paper should be cited in that paper's reference list.
Unpublished materials of various sorts that are not suitable for inclusion in the reference list may
be cited in text.
Wherever possible, the author should cite the most widely accessible source of a particular
piece of material. For example, when information included in a paper presented at a meeting
is subsequently published in a journal, the latter should be the source cited.
Reference lists need to provide complete and accurate information that will enable a reader to
locate the original source easily. References to different types of material may require slightly
different information:
Alphabetizing references
Entries in the reference list are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the author, editor,
compiler, or the name of the issuing organization. For the first author only, the surname is given
first, followed by initials. Names of any coauthors appear in regular order: initials precede the
author's surname (see examples). Multiple references by the same author are listed in the
following order: (1) works where the individual or organization is the only author, listed in order
of publication; (2) works where the individual is the first of two authors, arranged alphabetically
by the second author's name and date of publication; (3) works where the individual is the first
of three or more authors, listed in order of publication. Within each category, the oldest
publication is always listed first.
Abbreviating journal titles
AGU uses guidelines established by the Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index in
abbreviating
the names of serial publications and reports. One word titles are not abbreviated. Articles,
conjunctions, prepositions, hyphens, parentheses, commas, and accents are omitted in
abbreviated titles. Apostophes in transliterated titles are retained.
Correct format for AGU journal titles:
Global Biogeochem. Cycles; Geophys. Res. Lett.; J. Geophys. Res.; Paleoceanography;
Tectonics; Water Resour. Res.; Rev. Geophys.; Radio Sci.; Eos Trans. AGU
Other examples:
AAPG Bull.; Adv. Space Res.; Anal. Chem.; Ann. Geophys.; Ann. Glaciol.; Appl. Opt.;
Appl. Spectrosc.; Astrophys. J.; Bull. Int. Assoc. Eng. Geol.; Bull. Mar. Sci.; Can. J. Phys.;
Chem. Geol.; Contrib. Mineral. Petrol.; Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.; Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta;
Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.; IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens.; IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.; Int. J. Rock
Mech. Min. Sci. Geomech. Abstr.; J. Atmos. Chem.; J. Atmos. Oceanic Technol.; J. Atmos. Sci.;
J. Atmos. Terr. Phys.; J. Fluid Mech.; J. Geomagn. Geoelectr.; J. High Resolut.Chromatogr.; J.
Petrol.; J. Phys. Oceanogr.; Mon. Weather Rev.; Phys. Fluids; Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London Ser.
A; Planet. Space Sci.; Q. J. R. Meteorol. Soc.; Remote Sens. Environ.
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