Time is without doubt a very relative concept. As we all know, sometimes it moves quickly, sometimes it moves slowly and sometimes it seems to be at a standstill, although this cannot be said about the waning Finnish summer. At least it should be waning, but it seems as if it is gathering way at the moment. But irrespective of what time feels like for us individually, and irrespective of this strange 2015 Finnish summer, one thing is certain: time moves inexorably. And with moving time come changes, probably the mere definition of time anyway. Either way, Polar Record is subject to time as well and in order to keep up with time, one needs to adapt.

As regards our journal, the first steps of adaptation were taken by 1 January 2015 when two major changes occurred: first, in order to speed up the processing of submitted papers and articles and in order to save paper, postage etc, Polar Record is now exclusively an online journal. Second, given the increasing number of papers submitted to the journal, Polar Record has now a Deputy Editor, me, Nikolas Sellheim, assisting our Editor Ian Stone. As I was Book Reviews Editor before, Hanna Lempinen of the University of Lapland, Finland, has now stepped in to take over this position.

However, time moves on, as we all know. And two steps of adaptation to changing conditions are often not enough. It is thus necessary to take a third, albeit gradual step: our submission system is currently undergoing major changes with regard to the way papers are submitted, reviewed and edited. While papers have thus far been submitted to the Editor directly, we will change to a software called ScholarOne^® which many journals use nowadays. The reason is that the management of the submissions is significantly easier, especially in light of the ever increasing numbers of papers that are sent to us. Also the referees will submit their evaluations through this system then.

Yes, these are big changes, but don't be alarmed. We are not intending to change from one day to the next. Instead, we will have a transition period in which several types of submission/review, either to the Editor or Deputy Editor directly or through Edward Wilson-Eames ([email protected]) at Cambridge University Press or through ScholarOne^® are possible. Once the system goes live some time during winter 2015/2016, we will have a transition period until 31 December 2016, which gives us all enough time to get used to it. So we would encourage all of the (potential) authors and reviewers to give the system a try. It's really not very difficult and quite logical actually. One last word: book reviews, commentaries etc. will not be dealt with in ScholarOne^®, only those papers undergoing peer-review.

So, please expect the new system to appear in the next few weeks! And let's see what else time will bring. . .