Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Terms

A

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• A — Ampere
• A3RI — Antarctic Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Institute
• AAAS — American Association for the Advancement of Science
• AAS — American Astronomical Society
• ABBA — Automated Biomass Burning Algorithm
• ABI — Advanced Baseline Imager (GOES)
• ABLE — Amazon Boundary Layer Experiment
• ABOM — Australian Bureau of Meteorology* (abbreviation no longer used. 12-2004)
• ABS — Advanced Baseline Sounder
• ac or AC — alternating current
• ACARS — Aeronautical Radio, Inc. Communication and Recording System
• ACC — Atlantic Climate Change
• ACIS — ACademic Information Services (IBM)
• ACRIM — Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (EOS)
• ACS — Asynchronous Communications Server
• ADA — Americans with Disabilities Act
• ADC — Astronomical Data Center
• ADC — Atlantic Data Coverage (Meteosat)
• ADDE — Abstract Distributive Data Environment
• ADEOS — ADvanced Earth Observing Satellite (Japan)
• ADOM — Acid Deposition and Oxidant Model
• ADP — Administrative Data Processing (UW-Madison)
• ADR — Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator
• AERI — Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer
• AES — Atmospheric Environment Service (Canada)
• AF — Air Force
• AFB — Air Force Base
• AFGL — Air Force Geophysics Laboratory
• AFOS — Automation of Field Operations and Services (NWS)
• AFOSR — Air Force Office of Scientific Research
• AFWEX — Atmospheric Radiation Measurement First ISCCP Regional field Experiment Water Vapor Experiment (Nov.-Dec. 2000)
• AGCM — Atmospheric General Circulation Model
• AGCM — Australian General Circulation Model
• AGFS — Aviation Gridded Forecast System
• AGL — Above Ground Level
• AGO — Automated Geophysical Observatories
• AGU — American Geophysical Union
• AHSRL — Arctic High Spectral Resolution Lidar
• AI — Artificial Intelligence
• AIAA — American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• AIREP — AIRcraft REPort
• AIRS — Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (EOS)
• AISC — Assessment and Information Services Center
• AIX — Advanced Interactive eXecutive (IBMM-^Rs UNIX)
• AJ — Astronomical Journal
• a.k.a. — also known as
• ALERT — Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time
• ALEXI — Atmospheric Land EXchange Inversion (CIMSS)
• ALPEX — ALPine EXperiment
• ALSPP — Atmospheric and Land Surface Processes Project
• ALT — ALTimeter
• AMANDA — Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array
• amp — Ampere
• AMPS — Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System
• AMRC — Antarctic Meteorological Research Center
• AMRIR — Advanced Medium Resolution Infrared Radiometer
• AMS — American Meteorological Society
• AMSAS — AOA Meteorological Satellite Analysis System
• AMSR-E — Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS
• AMSU — Advanced Microwave Sounder Unit (EOS)
• AniS — AnimationS applet
• ANL — Argonne National Laboratory
• ANSI — American National Standards Institute
• AO — Announcement of Opportunity
• AOA — Airborne Optical Adjunct
• AO&SS — Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences (building)
• AOML — Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (NOAA)
• AOS — (Department of) Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
• AOT — Aerosol Optical Thickness
• AP — Anomalous Propagation
• AP — Associated Press
• API — Application Program Interface
• Ap.J — Astrophysical Journal
• APP — AVHRR Polar Pathfinder
• APSATS — Asia-Pacific Satellite Applications Training Seminar.
• APT — Automatic Picture Transmission
• APU — Auxiliary Power Unit
• ARA — Appletalk Remote Access
• ARC — Ames Research Center (NASA)
• ARC — Arctic Radiation and Chemistry experiment
• ARCMIP — Arctic Regional Climate Model Intercomparison Project
• ARCSyM — Arctic Region Climate System Model
• ARM — Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (DOE)
• ARM — Australian Region McIDAS
• ARPA — Advanced Research Projects Agency (DOD, formerly DARPA)
• ARPS — Advanced Regional Prediction System
• ARSLOE — Atlantic Remote Sensing Land/Ocean Experiment
• ASA — Academic Staff Assembly
• ASA — Antarctic Support Associates
• ASADA — Automated Smoke/Aerosol Detection Algorithm
• ASCII — American Standard Code for Information Interchange
• ASDAR — Aircraft to Satellite DAta Relay
• ASEAN — Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
• ASHOE — Airborne Southern Hemisphere Ozone Experiment
• ASIS — American Society for Information Science
• ASOS — Automated Surface Observing System (NWS)
• ASPT — Advanced Satellite Products Team (NOAA/ORA)
• ASPRO — Academic Staff Public Representation Organization
• ASR — Airport Surveillance Radar
• ASRC — Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
• ASTER — Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer (EOS)
• ASTEX — Atlantic STratus EXperiment
• AT&T — American Telephone & Telegraph
• ATBD — Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (EOS)
• ATC — Air Traffic Control
• ATM — Asynchronous Transfer Mode
• ATM — Division of ATMospheric Sciences (NSF)
• ATMES — ATmospheric Model Evaluation Study
• ATOVS — Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder
• A-TReC — Atlantic THORPEX Regional Campaign
• ATS — Applications Technology Satellite
• AU — Astronomical Unit
• AURA — Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
• AUTONAV — AUTOmatic NAVigation
• AVE-SESAME — Atmospheric Variability Experiment-Severe Environmental Storm and Mesoscale Experiment (1970s)
• AVHRR — Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
• AVIRIS — Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (JPL)
• AWC — Aviation Weather Center (form. NSSFC; NWS Center)
• AWG — Algorithm Working Group
• AWIPS — Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (NWS)
• AWS — Air Weather Service (USAF)
• AWS — Automatic Weather Stations

B

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• BACIMO —
• BAHC — Biospheric Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle
• BAMS — Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
• BAPMoN — Background Air Pollution Monitoring Network (WMO)
• BASE-A — Biomass burning Airborne and Spaceborne Experiment-Amazonia
• baud — one bit per second
• BBS — Bulletin Board System
• BBXRT — Broad Band X-Ray Telescope
• BCS — Broadband Cable System (UW)
• BIBEX — Biomass Burning Experiment
• bit — binary digit
• BITNET — Because ItM-^Rs Time NETwork
• BLCMD — BiLevel CoMmanD (DXS)
• BLIS — Boundary Layer Instrumentation System
• BMEE — Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• BMO — British Meteorological Office
• BMRC — Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre (Australia)
• BOM — Bureau of Meteorology (abbreviation no longer used.* Australia)
• BOREAS — Boreal Ecosystems Atmosphere Study (BAHC/GEWEX)
• bpi — bits per inch
• bps or BPS — bits per second
• BSEE — Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
• BTD — brightness temperature difference
• BTW — By The Way (e-mail)
• BUFR — Binary Universal FoRm
• BUV — Backscattered UltraViolet

C

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• C — Capacitance
• C — Centigrade
• CAC — Climate Analysis Center
• CACGP — Commission of Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (IAMAP)
• CAD — Computer Aided Design
• CALS — College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (UWM-^VMadison)
• CAMEX — Convection and Moisture Experiment
• CAMS — Calibrated Airborne Multispectral Scanner
• CaPE — Convection and Precipitation/Electrification Experiment (STORM)
• CAPE — Convective Available Potential Energy
• CAPPI — Constant Altitude Plan Position Indicator
• CAPS — Center for the Analysis and Prediction of Storms
• CARA — Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica
• CART — Cloud And Radiation Testbed (DOE/ARM)
• CAS — Calibrated Air Speed
• CASPR — Cloud and Surface Parameter Retrieval
• CAT — Carbon Dioxide Absorption Technique
• CCD — Charge-Coupled Device
• CCFF — Cape Canaveral Forecasting Facility
• CCM — Community Climate Model
• CCN — Cloud Condensation Nucleus (or Nuclei)
• CCR — Center for Climatic Research (IES)
• CCT — Computer Compatible Tape
• CDDF — Central Data Distribution Facility
• CDDIS — Crustal Dynamics Data Information System
• CDE — Common Desktop Environment
• CDF — Common Data Format (NASA/SSDC)
• CDF — Communications Data Field
• CD-ROM — Compact Disc-Read Only Memory
• CEES — Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences (U.S.)
• CEOS — Committee for Earth Observation Satellites
• CEPEX — Central Equatorial Pacific EXperiment
• CERES — Clouds and the EarthM-^Rs Radiant Energy System (EOS)
• CERN — Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (European Laboratory for Particle Physics; Geneva, Switzerland)
• CFC — ChloroFluoroCarbon
• CFTC — Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• CG — Center of Gravity (DXS)
• CGC — Climate and Global Change
• CGCP — Climate & Global Change Program
• CGI — Common Gateway Interface (Internet)
• CGM — Computer Graphics Metafile
• CGMS — Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (international group)
• CGSE — Customer electrical Ground Support Equipment (DXS)
• CH4 — methane
• CHAMEX — Cloud Height And Motion EXperiment
• CHAMMP — Computer Hardware, Advanced Mathematics and Model Physics
• CHAMP —
• CIASTA — Cooperative Institute for Atmospheric Sciences and Terrestrial Applications
• CICA — Center for Innovative Computer Applications
• CICS — Cooperative Institute for Climate Studies (U.Maryland)
• CIESIN — Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (U.S.)
• CIMMS — Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (OK)
• CIMSS — Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies
• CIRA — Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CSU)
• CIRES — Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CO)
• CIRRUS — Cloud InfraRed Radiometer for UnESS
• CIRTL — Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning
• CISE — Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF)
• CIT — Convection-Induced Turbulence
• CITA — Center for IT Accommodation (GSA)
• CITE — Cargo Integration and Test Equipment (DXS)
• CITE — Chemical Instrument Test and Evaluation (NASA GTE)
• CLASS — Cross-chain Loran Atmospheric Sounding System
• CLAVR — Clouds from AVHRR
• CLS — Cloud Lidar System
• CMA — China Meteorological Administration
• CMAQ — Community Multiscale Air Quality model (EPA)
• CMS — Conversational Monitoring System
• CNA — ComisiM-sn Nacional del Agua (Mexico)
• CNES — Centre National dM-^REtudes Spatiales
• CNN — Cable News Network
• CNRS — Centre National de la RM-icherche Scientifique
• CO — carbon monoxide
• CO2 — carbon dioxide
• COADS — Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Dataset
• COARE — Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Research Experiment (TOGA)
• CODAR — COrrelation Detection And Ranging
• COHMEX — COoperative Huntsville Meteorological EXperiment
• Co-I — CoInvestigator
• COMET — Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology Education and Training (NOAA and UCAR)
• COMSAT — COMmunications SATellite
• CONUS — CONtinental (or CONterminus) United States
• COSPAR — Committee On SPAce Research
• COSTAR — Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement
• COTS — Commercial Off-The-Shelf
• CPA — Certified Public Accountant
• CPC — Climate Prediction Center (NWS Center)
• cpi — characters per inch
• CPL — Cloud Physics Lidar
• CPR — CardioPulmonary Resuscitation
• CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission
• CPU — Central Processing Unit
• CRAS — CIMSS Regional Assimilation System
• CREST — Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center (Puerto Rico)
• CrIS — Cross-track Infrared Sounder
• CrO2 — Chromium Oxide
• CRT — Cathode Ray Tube
• CS — Computer Science
• CS&S — Computer Sciences and Statistics (UW-MSN)
• CSBT — Clear-Sky Brightness Temperature
• CSC — Computer Sciences Corporation
• CSI — Coastal Studies Institute (LSU)
• CSIRO — Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization
• CSIS — Centralized Storm Information System
• CSM — Comprehensive System Model
• CSMP — Climate System Modeling Project
• CSREES — Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (USDA)
• CST — Central Standard Time
• CST — Convective-Stratiform Technique
• CSU — Colorado State University (Ft. Collins)
• CTD — Conductivity-Temperature-Depth
• CTP — Cloud-Top Pressure
• CTS — Committee on Teaching of Science
• CU — University of Colorado
• CVS — Concurrent Versions System
• CWB — Central Weather Bureau (Taiwan)
• CZCS — Coastal Zone Color Scanner

D

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• DAAC — Distributed Active Archive Center
• DAO — Data Assimilation Office (NASA)
• DARPA — Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
• DASD — Direct Access Storage Device
• DAT — Digital Audio Tape
• DC — Detector Controller (DXS)
• dc — direct current
• DCS — Data Collection System (NOAA polar orbiting satellites)
• DDE — Distributive Data Environment (McIDAS)
• DDS — Domestic Data Service (NWS)
• DE — Detector Electronics (DXS)
• DEC — Digital Equipment Corporation
• DESY — Deutsches Elektronen-SYnchrotron
• DFAD — Digital Feature Analysis Data
• DFRC — Dryden Flight Research Center
• DGVM — Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (GAIM)
• DIFAX — DIgital FAcsimile map
• DILHR — Department of Industry, Labor & Human Relations
• DIS — Data and Information System
• disc — optical media (CDs)
• DISEL — Diseno e Ingenieria de Systemas Electronicos
• disk — magnetic media (floppies)
• DIU — Detector Interface Unit (DXS)
• DLESE — The Digital Library for Earth System Education
• DLL (or .dll) — Dynamic Link Libraries
• DMA — Defense Mapping Agency
• DMAP — Digital MAPping, charting and geodesy analysis program (USN)
• DMIC — Deputy Meteorologist-In-Charge (NWS)
• DMS — DiMethylSulphide
• DMSP — Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (USAF)
• DNAG — Decade of North American Geology
• DNR — Department of Natural Resources
• DNS — Domain Name System
• DOA — Department of Administration (U.S.)
• DOC — Department of Commerce (U.S.)
• DOD — Department of Defense (U.S.)
• DODS — Distributed Ocean Data System
• DOE — Department of Energy (U.S.)
• DOI — Department of the Interior (U.S.)
• DoIT — Department of Information Technology (UW-MSN)
• DOJ — Department of Justice (U.S.)
• DOL — Department of Labor (U.S.)
• DORIS — Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (EOS)
• DOS — Department of State (U.S.)
• DOS — Disk Operating System
• DOT — Department of Transportation (U.S.)
• DPI — Department of Public Instruction
• DPI — Derived Product Imagery
• DPS — Detector Power Supply
• DPS — Division of Planetary Science
• DPSS — Data Processing Services Subsystem
• DRIBU — DRIfting BUoy data
• DS2 — Second Dark Spot (Neptune)
• DSDP — Deep Sea Drilling Project
• DSP — Digital Signal Processing
• DST — Data Systems Test
• DTE — Data Terminal Equipment
• DTED — Digital Terrain Elevation Data
• DXS — Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer

E

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• E&CE — Electrical and Computer Engineering
• EAA — Experimental Aircraft Association
• EADS — Engineering and Data Analysis System
• EarthKAM — Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle-schoolers
• EBCDIC — Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code
• ECA — Effective Cloud Amount
• ECB — Educational Communications Board
• ECMWF — European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts
• ECOSOC — ECOnomic and SOcial Council (UN)
• ED — Department of Education (U.S.)
• EDAS — Eta Data Assimilation System
• EDC — EROS Data Center
• EGA — Enhanced Graphics Adapter
• EGSE — Electrical Ground Support Equipment
• EHWD — Enhanced Hot Water Drill
• EIA — Electronic Industries Association
• EM — ElectroMagnetic
• e-mail or email — electronic mail
• EMC — ElectroMagnetic Compatibility
• EMC — Environmental Modeling Center (NWS Center)
• EMI — ElectroMagnetic Interference
• EMT — Emergency Medical Technician
• ENSO — El NiM-qo/Southern Oscillation
• EOS — Earth Observing System
• EOSDIS — Earth Observing System Data and Information System
• EOSP — Earth Observing Scanner Polarimeter
• EPA — Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.)
• EPS — European Polar Satellite
• ER-2 — Earth Resources (plane), #2 (NASA)
• ERA — Employee Reimbursement Account
• ERBE — Earth Radiation Budget Experiment
• ERBS — Earth Radiation Budget Satellite
• ERICA — Experiment on Rapidly Intensifying Cyclones over the Atlantic
• ERL — Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA)
• EROS — Earth Resources Observing System
• ERS — ESA Remote Sensing satellite
• ERSAF — Environment Remote Sensing Analysis Facility
• ERSC — Environmental Remote Sensing Center (IES)
• ESA — European Space Agency
• ESDD — Earth Science Data Directory
• ESE — Earth Science Enterprise (NASA)
• ESMR — Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer
• ESOC — European Satellite Operations Center
• ESSA — Environmental Science Services Administration (preceded NOAA)
• ESSP — Earth System Science Pathfinder Mission (ESSP)
• ESTEC — European Space TEchnical Center
• ETAC — Environmental Technical Applications Center (USAF)
• EUMETSAT — EUropean organization for the exploitation of METeorological SATellites
• EVA — Extra Vehicular Activity

F

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• FAA — Federal Aviation Administration
• FAM — Flight Assurance Manager (DXS)
• FAO — Food and Agriculture Organization (UN)
• FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions (Internet)
• Fax — facsimile
• FCCC — Framework Convention on Climate Change
• FD — Flight Day (NASA)
• FDA — Food and Drug Administration (U.S.)
• FDIC — Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (U.S.)
• FedEx — Federal Express (colloquial till mid-1994, then new name)
• FEMA — Federal Emergency Management Agency (U.S.)
• FFA — Future Farmers of America
• FFT — Fast Fourier Transform
• FGGE — First GARP Global Experiment
• FIFE — First ISLSCP Field Experiment
• FIFO — First In, First Out
• FIRE — First ISCCP Regional Field Experiment
• FLAMBE — Fire Locating and Monitoring of Burning Emissions
• FLOP — FLoating point OPeration
• FLOWS — FAA-Lincoln Operational Weather Study
• FNMOC — Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (U.S. Navy)
• FOB — Federal Office Building
• FOC — Faint Object Camera (HST)
• FORTRAN — FORMula TRANslation
• FOS — Family Of Services (NWS)
• FOV — Field Of View
• FPDT — Forecast Products Development Team (NOAA/ORA)
• FPO — Field Project Office
• FRB — Federal Reserve Board (U.S.)
• FSL — Forecast Systems Laboratory (a NOAA ERL)
• FTC — Federal Trade Commission (U.S.)
• FTE — Full-Time Equivalent
• FTP — File Transfer Protocol (TCP/IP)
• FTS — Fourier Transform Spectrometer (HIS, AERI, etc.)
• FY — Fiscal Year
• FYI — For Your Information

G

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• GAC — Global Area Coverage
• GAIM — Global Analysis, Interpretation and Modeling (IGBP)
• GALE — Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment
• GAO — General Accounting Office (U.S.)
• GAPEX — Ground-based Atmospheric Profiling EXperiment
• GARP — Global Atmospheric Research Program
• GARS — GOES Archive and Retrieval System
• GASP — GOES Aerosol Smoke Product
• GATE — GARP Atlantic Tropical Experiment
• GAW — Global Atmosphere Watch (WMO)
• GB or Gb — Gigabyte
• GB-HIS — Ground-Based HIS
• GCIP — GEWEX Continental-scale International Project
• GCM — General Circulation Model
• GCOS — Global Climate Observing System
• GCRP — Global Change Research Program
• GCTE — Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems (IGBP)
• GDAS — Global Data Assimilation System
• GDEM — Generalized Digital Environmental Model
• GDS — Great Dark Spot (Neptune)
• GEMPAK — GEneral Meteorological PAcKage (NASA/GSFC)
• GEODAS — GEOphysical DAta System
• GEOS — GEodetic Orbiting Satellite
• GEOS — Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite
• GEOSAT — GEOdetic SATellite
• GET-WISE — Geoscience Enhancement for Teachers-Wisconsin Initiative for Space Education
• GEWEX — Global Energy and Water cycle EXperiment (WCRP)
• GFDL — Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (NOAA)
• GFMAO — Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (NASA)
• GGI — Global positioning system Geoscience Instrument
• GHz — GigaHertz
• GIF — Graphics Interchange Format
• GIFTS — Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer
• GIFTS-IOMI — GIFTS-Indian Ocean METOC Imager(U.S.Navy)
• GIMPAP — GOES I/M Product Assurance Plan
• GINI — GOES Ingest & NOAAport Interface
• GIS — Geographic Information System
• GISP — Greenland Ice Sheet Project (PAGES)
• GISS — Goddard Institute for Space Studies
• GLAS — Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (ICEsat)
• GLAS — Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheric Sciences
• GLERL — Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA)
• GLIS — Global Land Information System (USGS)
• GLOBE — Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment
• GLRS — Geoscience Laser Ranging System
• GMD — Grants Management Division (NOAA)
• GMS — Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (Japan)
• GMT — Greenwich Mean Time (repl. by UTC)
• GO3OS — Global Ozone Observing System (WMO)
• GOES — Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite
• GOEZS — Global Ocean Euphotic Zone Study (IGBP)
• GOFC — Global Observation of Forest Cover
• GOLD — Global Observation of Landcover Dynamics
• GORF — Goddard Optical Research Facility
• GOS — Geomagnetic Observing System
• GOWON — Gulf Offshore Weather Observing Network
• GPCI — General Purpose Channel Interface
• GPHIS — GeoPlatform High-resolution Interferometer Sounder
• GPS — Global Positioning System
• GRASP — GRaphic Animation System for Professionals
• GRIB — GRIdded Binary
• GSA — General Services Administration (U.S.)
• GSAS — Geostationary Satellite Archive System
• GSE — Ground Support Equipment
• GSFC — Goddard Space Flight Center
• GSOS — GPS Surface Observing System
• GTE — Global Tropospheric Experiment (NASA)
• GTM — Global Transport Model
• GTS — Global Telecommunication System (WMO)
• GUFMEX — GUlF of Mexico EXperiment
• GUI — Graphical User Interface
• GVAR — GOES VARiable
• GWE — Global Weather Experiment (a.k.a. FGGE)
• GWINDEX — GOES Rapid-Scan Winds Experiment

H

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• H2O — water (vapor)
• HAASC — Hughes/Aerojet/Aerospace/Space Command
• HAWC — High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera
• HDF — Hierarchical Data Format
• HDS — High-resolution Data Stream (NWS)
• HEAB — High Energy Astrophysics Branch (NASA)
• HES — Hyperspectral Environmental Suite(NOAA, formerly the Advanced Baseline Sounder)
• HF — High Frequency
• HHS — Department of Health and Human Services (U.S.)
• HIMSS — HIgh-resolution Microwave Spectrometer Sounder
• HIRDLS — HIgh-Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (EOS)
• HIRES — HIgh RESolution
• HIRIS — HIgh-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (EOS)
• HIRS — High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder
• HIS — High-resolution Interferometer Sounder
• HITC — Hughes Information Technology Company
• HLA — Human Leukocyte Antigen
• HMO — Health Maintenance Organization
• HMS — Hazard Mapping System (NOAA)
• HP — Hewlett-Packard
• hPa — hectopascal
• HPC — Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (NWS Center)
• HPCC — High Performance Computing and Communications
• HPD — Hourly Precipitation Data
• HPGL — Hewlett Packard Graphics Language
• HQ — HeadQuarters
• HRIR — High Resolution Infrared Radiometer
• HRPT — High Resolution Picture Transmission
• HRS — High-Resolution data Service (NWS)
• HSB — Humidity Sounder for Brazil
• HSP — High Speed Photometer
• HSR — High Spectral Resolution
• HSRL — High Spectral Resolution Lidar
• HST — Hubble Space Telescope
• HTML — HyperText Markup Language
• HTTP — HyperText Transfer Protocol (World Wide Web)
• HUD — Department of Housing and Urban Development (U.S.)
• HVPS — High Voltage Power Supply
• Hz — Hertz

I

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• IAF — International Astronautical Federation
• IAMAP — International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics
• IAP — Institute for Atmospheric Physics (PRC)
• IAPP — International ATOVS Processing Package
• IASI — Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (Europe)
• IBL — Internal Boundary Layer
• IBM — International Business Machines
• ICDS — Ice Coring and Drilling Services
• ICE — Image Composite Editor
• ICEsat — Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (NASA)
• ICI — Inversion Coupled with Imager (Meteo France)
• ICSU — International Council of Scientific Unions
• IDD — Internet Data Distribution (Unidata)
• IDEA — Infusing satellite Data into Environmental Applications (NASA, EPA, NOAA)
• IDL — Interactive Data Language
• IDS — International Data Service (NWS)
• IDV — Integrated Data Viewer (Unidata)
• IEEE — Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• IERC — IceCube Education Resource Center
• IES — Institute for Environmental Studies
• IG — Inspector General
• IGAC — International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project (IGBP)
• IGARSS — International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium
• IGBP — International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (ICSU)
• IGFA — International Group of Funding Agencies (IGBP)
• IHC — Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference
• IHOP — International H2O Project
• IIPS — (International Conference on) Interactive Information and Processing Systems (for Meteorology, Oceanography, and Hydrology-AMS)
• IMAP — Internet Message Access Protocol
• IMAPP — International MODIS/AIRS Processing Package
• IMAX — MAXimum Image
• IMD — India Meteorology Department
• IMDC — Instructional Media Development Center (UW)
• IMG — Interferometric Monitor for Greenhouse gases
• IMS — Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (NOAA)
• INM — Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (Spain)
• INO — Institute for Naval Oceanography
• INPE — Instituto de Pesquisas Espaciais (Brazil)
• INTERNET — INTERconnected computer NETwork
• I/O — Input/Output
• IOMI — Indian Ocean METOC Imager (Navy)
• IOP — Intensive Observing Period
• IP — Internet Protocol
• IPCC — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (WMO/UNEP)
• IPEI — Ionospheric Plasma and Electrodynamics Instrument
• IPL — Initial Program Load
• IR — InfraRed
• IR/MW —
• IRIS — Infrared Radiation Interferometer Spectrometer (1960s)
• IRS — Internal Revenue Service (U.S.)
• IRTF — Infrared Telescope Facility (NASA)
• ISCCP — International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (WCRP)
• ISDN — Integrated Services Digital Network
• ISI — Information Services International
• ISI — Institute for Scientific Information
• ISLSCP — International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (WCRP)
• ISO — International Standards Organization
• ISP — Internet Service Provider
• ISRO — Indian Space Research Organisation
• ISS — International Space Station
• ISY — International Space Year (1992)
• ITASE — International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition
• ITCZ — InterTropical Convergence Zone
• ITOVS — International TOVS
• ITOS — Improved Television and infrared Observation Satellite (1970s)
• ITPP — International TOVS Processing Package
• ITS — Interferometer Thermal Sounder (HIS)
• ITSC — International TOVS Study Conference
• ITT — International Telephone and Telegraph
• ITWG — International TOVS Working Group
• IUGG — International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
• IWG — Implementation Working Group
• IWGDMGC — Interagency Working Group on Data Management for Global Change

J

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• JAM — Journal of Applied Meteorology
• JASIN — Joint Air-Sea INteraction
• JCL — Job Control Language
• JCSDA — Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation
• JGOFS — Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (IGBP)
• JGR — Journal of Geophysical Research
• JMA — Japanese Meteorological Agency
• JOI — Joint Oceanographic Institutions
• JOSS — Joint Office for Science Support (UCAR)
• JPEG — Joint Photographic Experts Group
• JPL — Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• JSC — Johnson Space Center (NASA, Houston)

K

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• K — Kelvin
• K — Kilo, thousand
• KM-^V12 — Kindergarten through 12th grade
• Kb/s — kilobits per second
• km — kilometer
• KSC — Kennedy Space Center

L

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• LAC — Local Area Coverage
• LAFM — Limited-Area Fine Mesh
• Lake-ICE — Lake-Induced Convection Experiment
• LAMBADA — Large scale Atmospheric Moisture Balance of Amazonia using Data Assimilation (BAHC/GEWEX)
• LAMPS — Limited-Area Mesoscale Prediction System
• LAN — Local Area Network
• LAPS — Local Analysis and Prediction System
• LaRC — Langley Research Center (NASA)
• laser — Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
• LAWS — Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (EOS)
• LBA — Large-Scale Atmosphere-Biosphere Experiment in Amazonia
• LBLRTM — Line-By-Line Radiative Transfer Model
• LDA — Local Data Acquisition
• LDM — Local Data Manager (Unidata)
• LDW — Loran DropWindsonde
• LED — Light Emitting Diode
• LES — Large Eddy Simulation
• LFM — Limited-area Fine Mesh (NMC)
• LI — Lifted Index
• LIDAR — LIght Detection And Ranging
• LIMS — Limb Infrared Monitor of the Stratosphere
• LIS — Lightning Imaging Sensor
• LMD — Laboratoire de Meteorologie Dynamique (France)
• LOC — Library of Congress
• LOICZ — Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (IGBP)
• LORAN — LOng RAnge Navigation
• LPN — Licensed Practical Nurse
• LSE — Land Surface Emissivity
• LST — Land Surface Temperature
• LSU — Louisiana State University
• LTE — Limited Term Employee

M

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• m — meter(s)
• M — million (finance)
• MACC — Madison Academic Computing Center
• MAGICS — Meteorological Applications Graphics Integrated Colour System
• MAMS — Multispectral Atmospheric Mapping Sensor
• MAPS — Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System (NOAA/FSL)
• MAS — MODIS Airborne Simulator
• mb — millibar(s)
• Mb or MB — Megabytes (or megabits)
• MBA — Master of Business Administration
• Mbps — Megabytes per second
• Mb/s — Megabytes per second
• MBT — Mechanical BathyThermograph
• McIDAS — Man computer Interactive Data Access System
• McIDAS-MVS — McIDAS on Multiple Virtual Storage
• McIDAS-OS2 — PC-McIDAS on Operating System/2
• McIDAS-X — McIDAS running a UNIX-based operating system
• McIDAS-XCD — McIDAS running UNIX for Conventional Data
• McIDAS-XSD — McIDAS running UNIX for Satellite Data
• MCS — Mesoscale Convective System
• MD — Meteorological Data (McIDAS)
• MDR — Manually Digitized Radar
• MECCA — Model Evaluation Consortium for Climate Assessment (UCAR)
• MELV — Minimum Local Emissivity Variance
• MERLIN — Multisource EnviRonmental data dispLay for INternet archives (obsolete)
• MET — Mission Elapsed Time (from time of launch)
• METAR — METeorological Aviation Report
• Meteosat — METEOrological SATellite (European)
• METOC — METeorology and OCeanography
• METOC — METeorological and OCeanographic
• MHz — MegaHertz
• MIDAS — Meteorological Interactive Data Access System
• MIDDS — Meteorological Interactive Data Display System
• MIEC — Meteorological Information Extraction Center
• MIMR — Multifrequency Imaging Microwave Radiometer
• MISR — Multi-angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer (EOS)
• MIST — MIcroburst and Severe Thunderstorm program
• MIT — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• MLEV — Minimum Local Emissivity Variance
• MLS — Master of Library Science
• MLS — Microwave Limb Sounder (EOS)
• MM5 — 5th generation Pennsylvania State-NCAR Mesoscale Modeling system
• MMCR — MilliMeter Cloud Radar
• Modem — MOdulator-DEModulator
• MODIS — MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (EOS)
• MODIS-N — MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer-Nadir (EOS)
• MONEX — MONsoon EXperiment
• MOODS — Master Ocean Observation Data Set
• MOPITT — Measurements of Pollution In The Troposphere (EOS)
• MOS — Model Output Statistics
• MOU — Memorandum Of Understanding
• MPC — Marine Prediction Center (NWS Center)
• MPEG — Motion Pictures Experts Group
• MPL — MicroPulse Lidar
• MPP — Massively Parallel Processing
• MRE — Major Research Equipment
• MRF — Medium Range Forecast (NCEP)
• MSC — Meteorological Service of Canada
• MS-DOS — MicroSoft Disk Operating System
• MSFC — Marshall Space Flight Center
• MSG — Meteosat Second Generation
• MSL — Mean Sea Level
• MSLP — MSL Pressure
• MSS — Mass Storage System
• MSS — Multi-Spectral Scanner
• MSU — Microwave Sounding Unit
• MTDC — Modified Total Direct Costs
• MUG — McIDAS UsersM-^R Group
• MURI — Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (U.S. Navy)
• MVS — Multiple Virtual Storage

N

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• NAAPS — Navy Aerosol Analysis and Prediction System
• NAIF — Navigation Ancillary Information Facility (JPL)
• NAPAP — National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program
• NAS — National Academy of Sciences
• NASA — National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• NASDA — National Space Development Agency (Japan)
• NAST-I — NPOES Atmospheric Sounder Testbed-Interferometer
• NAVAID — NAVigational AID
• NCAR — National Center for Atmospheric Research
• NCDC — National Climatic Data Center
• NCDS — NASA Climate Data System
• NCEP — National Centers for Environmental Prediction (form. NMC; NWS Center)
• NCSA — National Center for Supercomputing Applications (UI-Urbana/Champaign)
• NCUA — National Credit Union Administration
• NDBC — National Data Buoy Center
• NDBO — Non-Directional Beacon Observation
• NDVI — Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
• NEA — National Endowment for the Arts
• NEDRES — National Environmental Data Referral Service
• NEDT — Noise Equivalent Delta Temperature
• NEH — National Endowment for the Humanities
• NEPRF — Naval Environmental Prediction Research Facility
• NESDIS — National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NOAA)
• netCDF — Network Common Data Form (UNIDATA)
• NETWX — NETwork Weather
• NEXRAD — NEXt generation RADar
• NFRE — Net Flux Radiometer Experiment
• NFS — Network File System
• NGDC — National Geophysical Data Center
• NGM — Nested Grid Model (NCEP)
• NGS — National Geodetic Survey
• NHC — National Hurricane Center (1996 colocated with TPC; NWS Center)
• NIC — National Ice Center
• NIC — Network Interface Card
• NIDS — NEXRAD Information Dissemination Service
• NIDS — NEXRAD Information Display System
• NIH — National Institute of Health
• NII — National Information Infrastructure
• NIMH — National Institute of Mental Health
• NIMS — Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (Galileo)
• NIST — National Institute for Standards and Technology
• NLDN — National Lightning Detection Network
• NLS — Network Library System
• nm — usually, nautical miles (unless specified as nanometers)
• NMC — National Meteorological Center (old. NCEP, 1996; NWS Center)
• NML — National Media Lab
• NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• NOAAport — satellite broadcast service that provides access to NOAA data and products
• NOAASIS — NOAA Satellite Information System
• NOAO — National Optical Astronomy Observatories
• NOARL — Naval Oceanographic and Atmospheric Research Laboratory
• NOAT — NPOESS Operational Algorithm Team
• NODC — National Oceanic Data Center
• NOGAPS — Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System
• NOMHICE — Non-Methane Hydrocarbon Intercomparison Experiment (IGAC)
• NOO — Naval Oceanographic Office
• NORDA — Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity
• NORPEX — North Pacific Experiment
• NOS — Network Operating System
• NPOESS — National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
• NPP — NPOESS Preparatory Project
• NPR — National Public Radio
• NPS — Numerical Products Service
• NRAO — National Radio Astronomy Observatory
• NRC — National Research Council
• NRL — Naval Research Laboratory
• N-ROSS — Navy-Remote Ocean Sensing System
• NSA — National Security Agency
• NSCAT — NASA wind SCATterometer
• NSF — National Science Foundation
• NSFnet — NSF network
• NSIDC — National Snow and Ice Data Center
• NSMC — National Satellite Meteorological Center (China)
• NSSDC — National Space Science Data Center
• NSSFC — National Severe Storms Forecast Center (old. 1996 AWC)
• NSSL — National Severe Storms Laboratory (NWS Center)
• NTIS — National Technical Information Service (DOC)
• NTSB — National Transportation Safety Board
• NTSC — National Television Standards Committee
• NWP — Numerical Weather Prediction
• NWS — National Weather Service (NOAA)
• NWSFO — NWS Forecast Office

O

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• OAO — Orbiting Astronomical Observatory
• OACT — Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology (NASA/HEAB)
• OAR — Office of Atmospheric Research (NOAA)
• OAT — Operational Algorithm Team
• OCEANIC — OCEAn Network Information Center
• OCLC — On-line Computer Library Center
• ODT — Objective Dvorak Technique
• OGP — Office of Global Programs
• OIES — Office for Interdisciplinary Earth Studies (UCAR)
• OIT — Office of Information Technology
• OLS — Optical Line Scanner
• OM — Operational Measurement
• OMB — Office of Management and Budget
• ONR — Office of Naval Research
• OPSAT — OPerational SATellite
• ORA — Office of Research & Applications (NOAA)
• ORNL — Oak Ridge National Lab
• OS/2 — Operating System, Version 2
• OSDPD — Office of Satellite Data Production and Distribution (NOAA/NESDIS)
• OSEI — Operational Significant Events Imagery (NOAA)
• OSO — Orbiting Solar Observatory
• OSS — Office of Space Science (NASA)
• OSSE — Office of Space Science Education (SSEC)
• OSTP — Office of Science and Technology Policy (U.S.)
• OSU — Oklahoma State University
• OWL — On-line Weather Looper

P

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• PAAP — Planetary Astronomy & Atmospheres Programs
• PAC — Processor Augmentation Card
• PACJET — Pacific Landfalling Jets Experiment
• PAGES — Past Global ChanGES
• PALMS — Precision Agricultural-Landscape Modeling System
• PARTS — Program to Address ASEAN Regional Transboundary Smoke
• Pas — Pascal
• PATHFINDER — Probing ATmospHeric/AsTropHysical Flows in an INtegrated and Distributed EnviRonment
• PBL — Problem Based Learning
• PBS — Public Broadcasting Service
• PbSt — Lead Stearate
• PC-McIDAS — Personal Computer-based McIDAS
• PCRAS — CIMSS Regional Assimilation System
• PDRC — Professional Development and Recognition Committee (UW-Madison)
• PDT — Product Development Team
• PDUS — Primary Data Utilization Site
• PE — Processor Element
• PEOPLE — Pre-college Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (UW-Madison)
• Perl — Practical extraction and report language
• PGU — Plant Growth Unit
• Ph.D. — Doctor of Philosophy
• PHIGS — ProgrammerM-^Rs Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System
• PHOXA — PHotochemical OXidant and Acid deposition (Europe)
• PI — Principal Investigator
• PIFTS — Planetary Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer
• PLDS — Pilot Land Data System
• PM — Program Manager
• PMT — PhotoMultiplier Tube
• POCC — Payload Operations Control Center (NASA)
• POES — Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite
• POP — Post Office Protocol
• PORSEC — Pacific Ocean Remote Sensing Conference
• POSIX — Portable Operating System Interface-UNIX
• PPI scan — Plan Position Indicator (lidar)
• ppm — part per million
• PPP — Point to Point Protocol
• PPS — Public Products Service (NWS)
• P.R. — Public Relations
• PRC — PeopleM-^Rs Republic of China
• PRC, Inc. — Planning Research Corporation
• PROFS — Program for Regional Observing and Forecasting Services (NOAA/ERL/FSL)
• PROM — Programmable Read-Only Memory
• PS/2 — Personal System/2
• PSL — Physical Sciences Lab
• PV — PhotoVoltaic
• PWV — Precipitable Water Vapor

Q

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• QC — Quality Control

R

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• RADM — Regional Acid Deposition Model
• RAID — Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks
• RAM — Random Access Memory
• RAMS — Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (CSU)
• RAOB — RAdiosonde OBservation
• RASS — Radar Altimeter Speedometer Sounder
• RASS — Radio Acoustic Sounding System
• RESAC — Regional Earth Science Applications Center (NASA)
• RF — Radio Frequency
• RFI — Radio Frequency Interference
• RFP — Request for Proposals
• RGB — Red/Green/Blue
• RGL — ReGionaL forecast Model
• RHI scan — Range-Height Indicator (lidar)
• RIG — Rooftop Instruments Group
• RISC — Reduced Instruction Set Computer
• RME — Relay Mirror Experiment
• rms or RMS — root mean square
• RMSD — Root Mean Square Difference
• RMSE — Root Mean Square Error
• ROM — Read-Only Memory
• RUC — Rapid Update Cycle

S

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• SAA — South Atlantic Anomaly
• SAB — Satellite Applications Branch (old. NESDIS)
• SAC — Scientific Advisory Council (of IGBP)
• SAFARI — Southern African Regional Science Initiative
• SAFIRE — Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere using Far InfraRed Emission
• SAG — Systems Administration Group
• SAGE — center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (UW-Madison IES)
• SAGE — Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (EOS)
• SAIC — Science Applications International Corporation
• SAIDAS — Sistema de Adquisicion e Integracion de DAtos de Satelite (Satellite data integration and acquisition system, Spain)
• SAL — Saharan Air Layer
• SAL — Space Astronomy Laboratory
• SAM — Signal Analyzing Monitor
• SAO — Surface Aviation Observation
• SAR — Synthetic Aperture Radar
• SAs — Stratospheric Aerosols
• SATEM — SAtellite TEMperature
• SATOB — SATellite OBservation
• SBN — Satellite Broadcast Network (NOAA)
• SBRC — Santa Barbara Research Center
• SBUV — Solar Backscatter UltraViolet radiometer (EOS)
• SCAR — Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research (ICSU)
• SCOPE — Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (ICSU)
• SCOR — Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (ICSU)
• SCUBA — Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
• SDA — SSEC Display Adapter
• SDAB — Systems Design and Applications Branch (old. NESDIS)
• SDHS — Satellite Data Handling System
• SDI — SSEC Desktop Ingestor
• SDL — Space Dynamics Laboratory
• SDM — Scientific Data Management (UNIDATA)
• SDS — Satellite Data Services
• SDSD — Satellite Data Services Division
• S|E|A — Software Engineering Australia
• SEASAT — SEA SATellite
• SEC — Space Environment Center (NWS Center)
• SECC — State EmployeesM-^R Combined Campaign
• SERON — South-Eastern Regional Oxidant Network (DOE, HIS)
• SEVIRI — Spinning Environmental Visible and InfraRed Instrument (Europe)
• SFOV — Single Field-Of-View
• SFY — State Fiscal Year
• SGI — Silicon Graphics Incorporated
• SGML — Standard Generalized Markup Language
• SGP — Southern Great Plains
• SHARP — Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (NASA)
• SHEAL — Shuttle High Energy Astrophysics Laboratory (NASA, old)
• SHEBA — Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean
• S-HIS — Scanning High resolution Interferometer Sounder
• SI — International Standard
• SIGGRAPH — Special Interest Group on computer GRAPHics
• SIRS — Satellite Infrared Radiation Spectrometer (1960s)
• SLIP — Serial Line Internet Protocol
• SLP — Sea-Level Pressure
• SMA — State Meteorological Agency (PRC)
• SMEX — SMall EXplorer
• SMEX — Soil Moisture EXperiment
• SMMR — Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer
• SMOCC — SMOke aerosols, Clouds, rainfall and Climate
• SMOKE — Satellite Monitoring of Oil Fires in Kuwait Expedition (Limaye)
• SMoKE — Satellite Measurements of KuwaitM-^Rs Effluent (Limaye)
• SMS — Synchronous Meteorological Satellite
• SMTP — Simple Mail Transport Protocol (Internet)
• SN — Serial Number
• SNR — Signal to Noise Ratio
• SNR — Super Nova Remnant
• SO2 — sulfur dioxide
• SOAT — Sounder Operational Algorithm Team
• SOCC — Satellite Operations Control Center
• SOHFI — Skin-layer Ocean Heat Flux Instrument
• SOLSTICE — SOLar/STellar Irradiance interComparison Experiment
• SONIC — SPAN: Ocean Network Information Center
• SOP — Special Observing Period
• SOPFEU — SOciM-itM-i de Protection des forM-jts contre le FEU (Quebec)
• SOTER — SOil TERrain project
• SPACE — Satellite Precipitation And Cloud Experiment
• SPACE — Standards Performance Achievement & Curriculum Enhancement-WISE
• SPAN — Space Physics Analysis Network (NASA)
• SPANDAR — SPace ANd range RaDAR
• SPC — Storm Prediction Center (NSSL; NWS Center)
• SPECTRE — SPECTral Radiance Experiment (DOE)
• SPECTRUM — SPecial Experiment Concerning Typhoon Recurvature and Unusual Movement
• SPF — South Polar Feature (Neptune)
• SPIE — Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers
• SPIU — Sensor Processor Interface Unit
• SPOC — Shuttle Payload of Opportunity Carrier
• SPoRT — Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (NASA)
• SPOT — Systeme Probatoire dM-^RObservation de la Terre satellite
• SPRESO — South Pole Remote Earth Science Observatory
• SRF — Spectral Response Function
• SRI — Stanford Research Institute
• SSA — Social Security Administration
• SSAI —
• SSC — Suspended Sediment Concentration
• SSDC — Space Science Data Center
• SSEC — Space Science and Engineering Center
• SSF — Specialized Service Facility (UW)
• SSI — Space Studies Institute
• SS/L — Space Systems/Loral, Inc. (formerly Ford Aerospace Corporation)
• SSM/I — Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
• SSM/T — Special Sensor Microwave/Temperature
• SST — Sea Surface Temperature
• SSU — Stratospheric Sounding Unit (TOVS)
• ST — Space Telescope
• STAR — Satellite Applications and Research
• START — SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training (IGBP)
• STD — Salinity-Temperature-Depth
• STEP — Satellite Technology Education Program (WSGC)
• STIB — Stratosphere-Troposphere Interactions and the Biosphere
• STIKSCAT — STIcK SCATterometer
• STORM — Stormscale Operational and Research Meteorology
• STORM-FEST — STORM-Fronts Experiment Systems Test
• STS — Space Transportation System
• STScI — Space Telescope Science Institute
• STUC — Space Telescope UserM-^Rs Committee
• SUCCESS — SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail and Cloud Effects Special Study (NASA/Ames)
• SUNY — State University of New York
• SURE — Summer Undergraduate Research Experience
• SVAT — Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer
• SW — Short Wave
• SWAMP — Science Working Group for the AM Platform (EOS)
• SWIRLS — Stratospheric Wind InfraRed Limb Sounder
• SYNOP — SYNoptic OPeration
• Synop — synoptic (surface) observation
• SYSOP — SYStem OPerator

T

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• TASC — The Analytic Sciences Corporation
• Tb — Terabytes
• TBD — To Be Determined
• TC — Technical Computing
• TC — Tropical Cyclones
• TCIPO — TOGA COARE International Project Office
• TCM — Tropical Cyclone Motion
• TCP — Transmission Control Protocol
• TCP/IP — Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
• TDRSS — Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System
• TEA — Teacher Exploring Antarctica
• TES — Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (EOS, Aura)
• TESAC — TEmperature-SAlinity-Currents
• THORPEX — THe Observing system Research and Prediction EXperiment

3

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• 3D-Var — Three-Dimensional Variational analysis

T

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• TIP — TIROS Information Processor (POES)
• TIROS — Television InfraRed Observation Satellite
• TLA — Three-Letter Acronym
• TMR — TOPEX Microwave Radiometer (EOS)
• TN — Technical Note
• TOGA — Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere (WCRP)
• TOMS — Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
• TOPEX — TOPographic EXperiment
• TOS — TIROS Operational Satellite
• TOVS — TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder
• TPC — Tropical Prediction Center (incl. NHC; NWS Center)
• TPW — Total Precipitable Water
• TRAGEX — TRAce Gas EXchange: Mid-latitude terrestrial ecosystems & atmosphere (IGAC)
• TRMM — Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
• TSR — Terminate and Stay Resident program
• TSR — Thermal and Solar Radiometer
• TWERLE — Tropical Wind, Energy conversion and Reference Level Experiment

U

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• UA — Upper Air observation
• UARS — Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
• UART — Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
• UAV — Unmanned Aerospace Vehicle
• UCAR — University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
• udres — Unidata resource library (not cap.)
• UFO — Unidentified Flying Object
• UHF — Ultra High Frequency
• UI — University of Illinois
• UIR — University/Industry Research (UW-Madison))
• UIUC — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• UK — United Kingdom
• ULTRIX — Berkeley UNIX 4.2 (DEC)
• UN — United Nations
• UNAVCO — University NAVstar COnsortium
• UNCED — UN Conference on Environment and Development
• UNEP — United Nations Environment Program
• UNESCO — United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• UnESS — University-class Earth System Science (NASA)
• UNIX — not an acronym, a play on MULTIX (TM, AT&T)
• UPC — Unidata Program Center
• UPI — United Press International
• UPS — Uninterruptible Power Supply
• URL — Universal Resource Locator (Internet)
• USAF — United States Air Force
• USAKA — United States Army Kwajalein Atoll
• USAP — United States Antarctic Program
• USDA — U.S. Department of Agriculture
• USGS — U.S. Geological Survey
• USPS — U.S. Postal Service
• USRA — Universities Space Research Association
• USSR — Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (up to September 1991)
• USSR — Union of Sovereign Socialist Republics (after September 1991)
• UTC — Universal Coordinated Time or Universal Time Coordinated (replaces GMT)
• UTH — Upper Tropospheric relative Humidity
• UV — UltraViolet
• UW — University of Wisconsin

V

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• V — Volts
• VAAC — Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
• VAB — Vehicle Assembly Building (KSC)
• VAC — Volts Alternating Current
• VAFB — Vandenberg Air Force Base
• VAS — VISSR Atmospheric Sounder (launch, 9-9-80)
• VAX — Virtual Address eXtension
• VCP — Venus Composition Probe
• VCR — Video Cassette Recorder
• VDT — Video Display Terminal
• VDUC — VAS Data Utilization Center
• VEEGA — Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist (Galileo)
• VGA — Video Graphics Array (IBM)
• VHF — Very High Frequency
• VIIRS — Visible/Infrared Imager and Radiometer Suite (NPOESS)
• VIL — Volume Imaging Lidar
• VIPS — VDUC Interactive Processing System
• Vis5D — Visualization of Five-Dimensional data
• VisAD — Visualization for Algorithm Development
• VISIT — Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (NWS)
• VISSR — Visible and Infrared Spin-Scan Radiometer
• VLBI — Very Long Baseline Interferometry
• VLF — Very Low Frequency
• VM — Virtual Machine
• VMS — Virtual Memory Systems
• VOAT — VIIRS Operational Algorithm Team
• VOC — Volatile Organic Compound
• VOCAR — Variation of Coastal Atmospheric Refractivity (Navy)
• VORTEX — Verification Of Tornadoes EXperiment
• VRML — Virtual Reality Modeling Language
• VROOM — Virtual Reality ROOM (SIGGRAPH)
• VTPR — Vertical Temperature Profile Radiometer (ITOS)
• VTR — VideoTape Recorder

W

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• WAA — Wisconsin Alumni Association
• WAISCORES — West Antarctic Ice Sheet CORES
• WARF — Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
• WBI — Wisconsin Buffer Initiative
• WCP — World Climate Programme
• WCRP — World Climate Research Program (WMO/ICSU)
• WCSAR — Wisconsin Center for Space Automation & Robotics (UW-MSN, Coll.Eng.)
• WF-ABBA — WildFire ABBA
• WFF — Wallops Flight Facility (NASA)
• WFO — Weather Forecast Office (NWS)
• WFPC — Wide Field and Planetary Camera (HST)
• WG — Working Group
• WHOI — Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• WIMO — WMO International Meteorological Organization
• WINCE — WINter Cloud Experiment
• Windii — Wind Doppler Imaging Interferometer (UARS)
• WINNERSS — Wisconsin Idea National Network Education and Research in the Space Sciences
• WISC-T2000 — Wisconsin Snow Ice-Terra 2000
• WISE — Wisconsin Initiative for Space Education WISPM-^WWide-field Imaging Survey Polarimeter (SAL)
• WISP — Winter Icing and Storms Project
• WIYN — Wisconsin-Indiana-Yale-NOAO consortium
• w/m2 — watt per meter squared
• WME — Wisconsin Model Engine
• WMO — World Meteorological Organization (UN)
• WOCE — World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WCRP)
• WPOP — Winds Product Oversight Panel (NESDIS)
• WPR — Wisconsin Public Radio
• WPS — Wisconsin Physicians Service
• WRF — Weather Research Forecast model
• WSGC — Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium
• WSI — Weather Services International
• WSMC — Western Space and Missile Center
• WSST — Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers
• WUPPE — Wisconsin Ultraviolet PhotoPolarimeter Experiment
• WVIOP — Water Vapor Intensive Observing Period
• WWII — World War II
• WWRP — World Weather Research Programme (WMO)
• WWW — WIDE WORD Workstation (TM, DataRam)
• WWW — World Weather Watch
• WWW — World Wide Web
• WXP — Weather Processor (Unidata/Purdue University)

X

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• XBSS — X-ray Background Survey Spectrometer
• XBT — eXpendable BathyThermograph
• XGKS — X-window Graphics Kernel System (Unidata)
• XIE — X-ray Imaging Experiment
• XRAP — X-windows Radar Analysis Processing
• X-Term — X-windows Terminal