The experimental approach to the earth sciences has long been a vital component of our understanding of the Earth and its inner workings. Experimental contributions, despite having several aspects of their conception, planning, execution and application in common, have never been bundled in a single vehicle whose task it should become to acquaint both experimentalists and non-experimentalists with the fruits of this research, and its prospects for the future, as a whole. Instead, experimental components of the diverse fields listed above have been wholly embedded in their individual disciplines, somewhat isolated from one another. Given the increasing integration of experimental studies with analytical, observational and modelling initiatives, it would seem timely to accompany this development with a Virtual Journal that can serve as an interface between experimentalists of differing disciplines, as well as between experimentalists and non-experimentalists. Thus the Virtual Journal - Experimental Earth seeks to overcome the barriers to a truly interdisciplinary discourse over the role of experimental studies in the solid earth sciences.
The Virtual Journal - Experimental Earth will capitalise on the advantages of its medium by maintaining a flexible but increasingly comprehensive structure for hosting a debate on the nature of experimental investigations in Earth Sciences, their philosophy, execution, applications, and limitations. New modules to assist experimentalists and non-experimentalist readers alike will be added as needed.