摘要：Open access (OA) refers to unrestricted access via the Internetto articles published in scholarly journals such as the “Journal ofGeography and Natural Disasters” (2167-0587). OMICS Publishing Groupstrongly supports this open access initiative and all articles publishedby OMICS Publishing Group are freely accessible to everyoneimmediately after publication. Some of the special features of OMICSgroup journals include digital formatting, audio listening, languagetranslation and ability to share views on articles via social networking.2167-0587-open access gives a worldwide audience larger than that of anysubscription-based journal. Articles published in open access formatare more likely to be cited than those that are not [1]. Due to this reasonimpact factor of open access journals is on the rise for the last couple ofyears [2]. Researchers in developing nations are more likely to accessinformation published by OA journals. The knowledge and expertise ofthe editors and editorial board members of 2167-0587 ensures high qualityresearch articles and allows for a comprehensive review of scholarlyworks that span broad spectrum of issues concerning geography andvarious natural disasters. I believe the idea of open access is morerelevant in the field of geography where there is an urgent need tounderstand planet earth and various natural disasters that humanbeings experience during their lifetimes. We cannot prevent a naturaldisaster, but we can be better prepared in dealing with it when it occurs.
