Last updated: September 2, 2026
Earth-Catalog respects the privacy of visitors to Earth-Catalog.com. This Privacy Policy explains what information may be processed when you browse the website or contact us by email, why it may be used, how it may be shared or retained, and the choices available to you.
Earth-Catalog is an independent educational website publishing articles about Earth science across Land, Water, Climate, Life, and Space.
Data Controller
For applicable data-protection purposes, the operator of Earth-Catalog.com determines how personal information is processed through the website.
Website: Earth-Catalog.com
Privacy email: info@earth-catalog.com
“Earth-Catalog,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to this website operator.
Access Without Providing Personal Information
You can read Earth-Catalog without creating an account, registering a profile, subscribing to a newsletter, submitting a contact form, or providing payment information. The website does not currently offer user accounts, comments, online purchases, or booking services.
Although you do not need to identify yourself to access the articles, limited technical information may be processed automatically when your browser requests a page.
Information Processed Automatically
Earth-Catalog, its hosting provider, security systems, analytics service, and other technical providers may process information such as:
- Your IP address and approximate geographic area
- Browser, device, operating system, and screen characteristics
- Pages and files requested
- Date and time of access
- Referring website or traffic source
- General interactions with pages and links
- Error, security, and server-log information
- Cookie or similar pseudonymous identifiers
This information may be used to deliver website content, maintain security, detect misuse, diagnose technical problems, understand general visitor activity, and improve site organization and performance.
Server and security logs are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for hosting, troubleshooting, cybersecurity, abuse prevention, and legal compliance. Exact retention periods may depend on the settings of the relevant technical provider.
Google Analytics
Earth-Catalog uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors find and interact with the website. When analytics is enabled following your cookie choice, Google Analytics may process information about page views, sessions, approximate session duration, traffic sources, device categories, browsers, operating systems, approximate locations, and interactions with content.
Analytics reports help us understand which Earth science subjects receive interest, how the website performs across devices, and where editorial, navigational, or technical improvements may be useful. We do not use these reports to identify visitors by name, create customer profiles, or send marketing emails.
Google Analytics may use cookies or similar identifiers, including cookies commonly named _ga and _ga_<measurement-id>. Their precise names and duration may vary with the website configuration, browser restrictions, and technical changes made by Google.
Cookie Choices
Necessary cookies or browser-storage records may be used to remember cookie preferences, support security, prevent abuse, or provide essential website functions.
Where consent is required, nonessential analytics cookies should remain inactive until you accept them through the website’s cookie controls. You may accept or reject analytics cookies, withdraw consent, or adjust your browser settings. Rejecting analytics cookies does not prevent you from reading Earth-Catalog articles.
A necessary record may store your cookie choice. If you delete browser cookies or website data, the saved preference may also be removed and the consent notice may appear again.
Contact by Email
Earth-Catalog does not operate a website contact form. If you email us, we may process your email address, name, organization, message, email signature, attachments, technical details included in the message, and our correspondence with you.
This information may be used to respond to your inquiry, review a correction or topic suggestion, assess a collaboration or advertising proposal, investigate a technical or copyright concern, maintain necessary records, protect legitimate interests, or comply with legal obligations.
Contacting Earth-Catalog does not add you to a newsletter or marketing list. Please do not send passwords, payment information, identification documents, medical records, or other sensitive information unless it is genuinely necessary for your request.
Legal Bases and Uses of Information
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, information may be processed on one or more of the following grounds:
- Consent, including consent for nonessential analytics cookies where required
- Legitimate interests, such as operating, securing, maintaining, and improving the website
- Steps taken at your request, such as reviewing an inquiry or professional proposal
- Legal obligations, including responding to lawful requests or protecting legal rights
Personal information is not sold or rented. It is used only where reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy.
Service Providers and International Processing
Earth-Catalog may use providers for website hosting, domain infrastructure, security, performance, email, analytics, maintenance, and professional advice. Public authorities may also receive information when disclosure is legally required.
These providers may process limited information as necessary to supply their services, secure their systems, or meet their own legal duties. Google processes information when providing Google Analytics.
Some providers may operate in multiple countries. Information may therefore be processed outside Albania or outside the country where you live. Where required, international processing should be supported by appropriate legal, contractual, organizational, or technical safeguards.
Data Retention
Information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.
Google Analytics user-level and event-level data may be retained for up to 14 months, unless a shorter period is configured or required. Aggregated statistics may remain available differently from individual event data.
Email correspondence is kept only while needed to answer the message, manage follow-up, maintain necessary records, resolve disputes, protect legal interests, or meet applicable obligations. Technical logs and cookie-preference records are retained according to their operational, security, and compliance purposes.
External Websites
Earth-Catalog articles may link to scientific institutions, government agencies, universities, research publications, or other external resources. Independent websites process information under their own privacy policies, cookie practices, and terms. Earth-Catalog does not control their security or handling of personal information.
Data Security
Reasonable technical and organizational measures are used to protect the website and information processed through it. These may include access controls, software maintenance, hosting safeguards, backups, password protection, and security monitoring.
No website, email service, storage system, or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Visitors should avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information and take appropriate precautions when using online services.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on the law that applies to you, you may have rights to:
- Ask whether your personal information is being processed
- Request access to relevant information
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion or restriction where legally applicable
- Object to certain processing based on legitimate interests
- Withdraw consent for analytics cookies
- Request data portability where applicable
- Learn about relevant recipients
- Complain to a competent data-protection authority
These rights may be subject to legal conditions and exceptions. Because Earth-Catalog does not operate user accounts and analytics records generally use pseudonymous browser identifiers, it may not always be technically possible to connect an analytics record with a particular person.
Privacy requests may be sent to info@earth-catalog.com. We may request limited information needed to verify the request and locate relevant records.
If you have concerns about the processing of your information, you may also contact the Commissioner for the Right to Information and the Protection of Personal Data in Albania or the competent authority where you live.
Children’s Privacy
Earth-Catalog provides general educational content and is not designed to collect personal information from children. It does not ask visitors to create profiles, register accounts, or provide payment details.
A parent or guardian who believes that a child has sent personal information to Earth-Catalog may contact us to request review or deletion where appropriate.
Changes to This Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated when the website, analytics configuration, technical providers, communication practices, or legal requirements change. The revised version will be published on this page with a new update date.
Visitors may be asked to renew their cookie preferences when a material change affects consent-based processing.
Contact Information
Questions, requests, or concerns about privacy, cookies, or personal information may be sent to:
Website: Earth-Catalog.com
Email: info@earth-catalog.com