Global Change Acronyms and Abbreviations

The table below is a list of global change acronyms and abbreviations gathered by GCRIO from the FY 1995 through FY 2001 editions of Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Global Change Research Program, The U.S. Global Change Data and Information System (GCDIS) Implementation Plan and other sources.

Other global change and environmental science acronym lists can be found at:

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W

AASE	Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (1991-92)	ACCE	Atlantic Circulation and Climate Experiment
ACCP	Atlantic Climate Change Program	ACRIMSAT	Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor
ACVE	Atlantic Climate Variability Experiment	ADC	Affiliated Data Center
ADD	The International Arctic Environment Data Directory	ADEOS	Advanced Earth Observing Satellite
AERI	Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer	AFW	Air Force Weather
AIRS	Advanced Infrared Sounder	ALOS	Advanced Land Observation Satellite
AMAP	Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme	AMIP	Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project
AMSR-E	Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-EOS	AMSU	Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
APEC	Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization	APN	Asia-Pacific Network
ARCSS	Arctic System Science	ARGO	Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography
ARM	Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program	ASF	Alaska SAR Facility
ASTER	Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer	ATLAS	Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science
ATMOS	Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy Experiment	ATOC	Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate
ATS	Antarctic Treaty System	AVHRR	Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer

BAHC	Biospheric Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle	BAS	British Antarctic Survey
BOREAS	Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

CARDS	Comprehensive Aerological Reference Data Set	CCSM	Community Climate System Model
CDDIS	Crustal Dynamics Data Information System	CDEP	Climate Dynamics and Experimental Prediction
CDIAC	Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center	CEES	Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences (obsolete)
CENR	Committee on Environment and Natural Resources	CEOS	Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
CEOS-IDN	CEOS International Directory Network	CEPEX	Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment
CERES	Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System	CFCs	Chlorofluorocarbons
CHAMMP	Computer Hardware, Advanced Mathematics and Model Physics Program	CIESIN	Center for International Earth Sciences Information Network
CIRLA	Cloud Information Reference Archive and Library	CLAES	Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer
CLIVAR	Climate Variability and Predictability	CMA	Chinese Meteorological Admininstration
CMAP	Climate Modeling, Analysis and Prediction Program	CMDL	NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
CMIP	Coupled Model Intercomparison Project	CNES	Centre Nationale d'Etudes Spatiales
CO₂	Carbon Dioxide	COADS	Comprehensive Ocean Atmosphere Data Set
CODATA	Committee on Data for Science and Technology (ICSU)	CSA	Canadian Space Agency
CSL	Climate Simulation Laboratory (at NCAR)	CZCS	Coastal Zone Color Scanner

DAAC	NASA Distributed Active Archive Center	DEM	Digital Elevation Model
DIF	Directory Interchange Format	DLG	Digital Line Graph
DMA	Defense Mapping Agency	DMSP	Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
DOC	Department of Commerce	DOD	Department of Defense
DOE	Department of Energy	DOI	Department of the Interior
DSS	Data Support Section (NSF)	DTIC	Defense Technical Information Center

ECPC	Experimental Climate Prediction Center	EDC	EROS Data Center
EIA	Energy Information Administration	EMAP	Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EPA)
ENRICH	European Network for Research in Global Change	ENSO	El Niño-Southern Oscillation
ENVISAT	Environmental Satellite	EO-ICWG	Earth Observation International Coordination Working Group
EOS	Earth Observing System	EOSDIS	Earth Observing System Data and Information System
EPA	US Environmental Protection Agency	EROC	Ecological Rates of Change
ERB	Earth Radiation Budget	ERS	European Remote-Sensing Satellite
ESA	European Space Agency	ESnet	Energy Sciences Network
ESSP	Earth System Science Pathfinder Project	EUMETSAT	European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

FACE	Free Air CO₂ Enrichment	FAO	Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations)
FCCC	Framework Convention on Climate Change	FGDC	Federal Geographic Data Committee
FIFE	First International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment	FIPS	Federal Information Processing Standards
FNMOC	Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center	FY	Fiscal Year

GAC	Global Area Coverage	GAIM	Global Analysis, Interpretation and Modeling
GCDIS	US Global Change Data and Information System	GCH	Global Change Climate and History
GCIP	GEWEX Continental-Scale International Project	GCM	General Circulation Model
GCMD	Global Change Master Directory	GCOS	Global Climate Observing System
GCSS	GEWEX Cloud System Study	GCRIO	US Global Change Research Information Office
GCTE	Global Change in Terrestrial Ecosystems	GDP	Gross Domestic Product
GEMS	Global Environment Monitoring System	GEWEX	Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment
GFDL	Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory	GHCN	Global Historical Climatology Network
GHRC	Global Hydrology Resource Center	GHG	Greenhouse Gas
GILS	Government Information Locator Service	GIS	Geographic Information System
GISS	Goddard Institute for Space Studies	GLIS	Global Land Information System (obsolete)
GLOBE	Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment	GLOBEC	Global Marine Ecosystem Dynamics Program
GLOED	Global Emissions Database	GMS	Geostationary Meteorological Satellite
GOALS	Global Ocean-Atmosphere-Land System Program	GODAE	Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment
GOES	Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite	GOIN	Global Observation Information Network
GOOS	Global Ocean Observing System	GPCP	Global Precipitation Climatology Project
GRACE	Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment	GRID	Global Resource Information Database (UNEP)
GSFC	Goddard Space Flight Center	GTCP	Global Tropospheric Chemistry Program
GTOS	Global Terrestrial Observing System	GVaP	GEWEX Water Vapor Project
GWP	Global Warming Potential

HALOE	Halogen Occultation Experiment (satellite instrument)	HCFCs	Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
HDP-DIS	Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme Data and Information System	HFCs	Hydrofluorocarbons
HPCC	High Performance Computing and Communications	HSB	Humidity Sounder for Brazil

IAI	Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research	IASC	International Arctic Sciences Committee
ICES	International Council for the Exploration of the Seas	ICESat	Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite
ICPSR	Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research	ICSU	International Council of Scientific Unions
IDN	International Directory Network	IEOS	International Earth Observing System
IGAC	International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project	IGBP	International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
IGBP-DIS	International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme Data and Information System	IGFA	International Group of Funding Agencies
IGOS	Integrated Global Observing Strategy	IHDP	International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme
IHP	International Hydrological Programme	IIASA	International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
INDOEX	Indian Ocean Experiment	INPE	Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (Brazilian Space Agency)
IOC	Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission	IODE	International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange
IPCC	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change	IRI	International Research Institute for Climate Prediction
ISAMS	Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder	ISCCP	International Satellite Cloud Climate Project
ISLSCP	International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project	ITCZ	Intertropical Convergence Zone
IUGG	International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics	IWGDMGC	Interagency Working Group on Data Management for Global Change (obsolete)

JERS-1	Japan's Earth Resources Satellite	JGOFS	Joint Global Ocean Flux Study
JPL	Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA)

LaRC	Langley Research Center (NASA)	LBA	Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia
LITE	Lidar-in-space Technology Experiment	LOICZ	Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone
LMER	Land Margins Ecosystem Research	LTER	Long-Term Ecological Research
LUCC	Land- Use and Land-Cover Change

MAB	Man And the Biosphere Program	MAPSS	Mapped Atmosphere-Plant-Soil System
MECCA	Model Evaluation Consortium for Climate Assessment	MEDIAS	MEDIterranean and Subtropical Africa
METOP	Meteorological Operation (satellite)	MISR	Multi-angle Imaging Spectrometer
MITI	Ministry of International Trade and Industry	MLS	Microwave Limb Sounder
MMIA	Methods and Models for Integrated Assessment (NSF Program)	MOC	Meridional Overturning Circulation
MODIS	Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer	MOPITT	Measurement of Pollutants in the Troposphere
MSFC	Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA)	MSU	Microwave Sounding Unit

NADW	North Atlantic Deep Water	NAL	National Agricultural Library
NALC	North American Landscape Characterization	NAO	North Atlantic Oscillation
NARA	National Archive and Records Administration	NAS	National Academy of Sciences
NASA	National Aeronautics and Space Administration	NASDA	National Space Development Agency (Japan)
NBII	National Biological Information Infrastructure	NBS	National Biological Service
NCAR	National Center for Atmospheric Research	NCDC	National Climatic Data Center
NCEP	National Centers for Environmental Prediction	NCSA	National Center for Supercomputer Applications
NDSC	Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change	NEDRES	National Environmental Data Referral Service
NEIC	National Energy Information Center	NESC	National Environmental Supercomputing Center
NESDIS	National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service	NEXRAD	Next Generation Weather Radar
NGDC	National Geophysical Data Center	NIGEC	National Institute for Global Environmental Change
NII	National Information Infrastructure	NIMA	National Imagery and Mapping Agency
NIST	National Institute of Standards and Technology	NMFS	National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	NOAADIR	NOAA Environmental Services Data Directory
NODC	National Oceanographic Data Center	NODIS	NSSDC Online Data and Information System (no longer operational)
NOS	National Ocean Service	NPOESS	National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
NRC	National Research Council	NRCSM	Natural Resources Conservation Service
NREN	National Research and Education Network (NASA)	NSCAT	NASA Scatterometer
NSDI	National Spatial Data Infrastructure	NSF	National Science Foundation
NSIDC	National Snow and Ice Data Center	NSSDC	National Space Science Data Center
NSTC	National Science and Technology Council	NTIS	National Technical Information Service

OACES	Ocean-Atmosphere Carbon Exchange Study	ODP	Ozone Depletion Potential
OECD	Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development	OES	Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (US State Department)
OGCM	Ocean General Circulation Model	OMB	Office of Management and Budget
ONR	Office of Naval Research	ORNL	Oak Ridge National Laboratory
OSTI	Office of Scientific and Technical Information	OSTP	Office of Science and Technology Policy
OTA	Office of Technology Assessment (no longer exists)	OTTER	Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research

PAGES	Past Global Changes Program	PCMDI	Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison
PDO	Pacific Decadal Oscillation	PER	Program for Ecosystem Research
PFCs	Perfluorinated hydrocarbons	PIBAL	Pilot Balloon
PICES	North Pacific Marine Science Organization	PMEL	Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (NOAA)
PMIP	Paleoclimatic Model Intercomparison Project	POAM	Polar Ozone Aerosol Monitor
POEM	Polar-Orbit Earth Observation Mission	PNA	Pacific North American Teleconnection
ppmv	Parts Per Million by Volume	pptv	Parts Per Trillion by Volume
PROBE	Pilot Radiation Observation Experiment	PSC	Polar Stratospheric Cloud
PUMS	Public Use Microdata Samples

QBO

Quasi-biennial Oscillation

QuikSCAT

Quick Scatterometer

RIC	Regional Information Centre (IGBP)	RIDGE	Ridge Interdisciplinary Global Experiments
RTNEPH	Real Time Nephanalysis

SAA	Satellite Active Archive	SAGE	Stratospheric Aerosol Gas Experiment (satellite instrument)
SAM	Stratospheric Aerosol Measurement (satellite instrument)	SAMS	Surface Automated Meteorological Systems
SAR	Synthetic Aperture Radar	SBUV	Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (satellite instrument)
SCAR	Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research	SCAR-B	Smoke, Clouds, and Radiation-Brazil
SCOPE	Scientific Committee On Problems of the Environment	SCOR	Scientific Committee On Oceanic Research
SCS	Soil Conservation Service	SCSMEX	South China Sea Monsoon Experiment
SDSD	Satellite Data Services Division	SDTS	Spatial Data Transfer Standard
SeaWiFS	Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor	SEDAC	Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center
SERDP	Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program	SGCR	Subcommittee on Global Change Research
SIP	Solar Influences Program	SIR-C	Shuttle Imaging Radar-C
SOHO	Solar Heliospheric Observatory	SPADE	Stratospheric Photochemistry, Aerosols, and Dynamics Expedition
SPARC	Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate	SPAS	Shuttle Pallet Satellite
SPOT	Systeme pour l'Observation de la terre	SRB	Surface Radiation Budget
SRL	Space Radar Laboratory	SSBUV	Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet
SRTM	Shuttle Radar Topography Mission	SSM/I	Special Sensor Microwave/Imager
SST	Sea Surface Temperature	STA	Science and Technology Agency of Japan
START	Global Change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training	STD	Salinity/Temperature/Depth
SURFRAD	Surface Radiation Budget Network

TAO	Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean (observing system)	TECO	Terrestrial Ecological Research Initiative
TERRA	Terrestrial Ecosystem Regional Research and Analysis Laboratory	TFODM	Task Force on Observations and Data Management (obsolete)
TOGA	Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Experiment	TOGA/COARE	TOGA/Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment
TOMS	Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer	TOPEX/Poseidon	Ocean Topography Experiment
TOVS	Tiros Operational Vertical Sounder	TRMM	Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission

UARS	Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite	UCAR	University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
UN	United Nations	UNDP	United Nations Development Programme
UNEP	United Nations Environment Programme	UNESCO	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNFCCC	United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change	UNIDATA	University Data System
USDA	United States Department of Agriculture	USGCRP	United States Global Change Change Research Program
USGS	United States Geological Survey	USMARC	United States Machine Readable Cataloging
UV	Ultraviolet radiation (including UV-A and UV-B)	UV-B	Ultraviolet-B

VAMOS

Variability of the American Monsoon System

VENTS

A NOAA Program on Mid-Ocean Ridges

WCP	World Climate Programme	WCRP	World Climate Research Programme
WDC	World Data Center	WEAVE	Water and Energy: Atmospheric, Vegetative, and Earth Interactions (NSF Program)
WEBB	Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budget (USGS Program)	WHO	World Health Organization
WMO	World Meteorological Organization	WOCE	World Ocean Circulation Experiment

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