Jump to
AMS maintains this acronym reference list and no longer requires that authors submitting to our periodicals expand the scientific, model, institutional, and experiment/program acronyms appearing on the list. These lists are not meant to be comprehensive, but rather to cover those terms that we see most often and that are most familiar to our readers. We welcome community feedback ([email protected]) on list composition and any necessary corrections and updates. Authors may still include expansions in their papers, and copy and technical editors will ensure that the spelling and formatting of these expansions and their acronyms are consistent with the lists.
Standard technical abbreviations and acronyms
- 1D
- one-dimensional
- 2D
- two-dimensional
- 3D
- three-dimensional
- 3DVAR (also variations, e.g., 3D-Var)
- three-dimensional variational data assimilation
- 4DVAR (also variations, e.g., 4D-Var)
- four-dimensional variational data assimilation
A
- ABL
- atmospheric boundary layer
- ac
- alternating current
- AD
- anno Domini
- ADCP
- acoustic Doppler current profiler
- AGCM
- atmospheric general circulation model
- AGL
- above ground level
- AM
- amplitude modulation
- AMO
- Atlantic multidecadal oscillation
- ANOVA
- analysis of variance
- APEX
- autonomous profiling explorer
- AXBT
- airborne XBT
- AXCTD
- airborne expendable CTD
B
- BP
- before present
- BT (XBT)
- bathythermograph (expendable)
C
- CAPE
- convective available potential energy
- CAPPI
- constant-altitude plan position indicator
- CAT
- clear-air turbulence
- CBL
- convective boundary layer
- CCN
- cloud condensation nuclei
- CDF
- cumulative distribution function
- CFL
- Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy
- cgs
- centimeter-gram-second
- CIN
- convective inhibition
- CONUS
- contiguous/conterminous United States
- cos
- cosine
- COVID-19
- coronavirus disease 2019
- cpd
- cycles per day
- cpy
- cycles per year
- CTD
- conductivity–temperature–depth
D
- dc
- direct current
- DEM
- digital elevation model
- DJF
- December–February
- DSD
- drop size distribution
E
- EF scale
- enhanced Fujita scale (EF#)
- EHI
- energy–helicity index
- EM-APEX
- electromagnetic autonomous profiling explorer
- emf
- electromotive force
- EnKF
- ensemble Kalman filter
- ENSO
- El Niño–Southern Oscillation
- EOF
- empirical orthogonal function
- Eq.
- equation
- ERB
- earth radiation budget
- erf
- error function
- erfc
- error function (complement of)
- et al.
- et alia/ii/iae (and others)
- etc.
- et cetera
- ETS
- equitable threat score
- EUV
- extreme ultraviolet
F
- F scale
- Fujita scale (F#)
- FAR
- false alarm rate (or ratio)
- FDDA
- four-dimensional data assimilation
- FFT
- fast Fourier transform
- Fig.
- figure
- FM
- frequency modulation
G
- GBVTD
- ground-based velocity track display
- GCM
- general circulation model (OR global climate model)
- GDP
- gross domestic product
- GIS
- geographic information system
- GPS
- global positioning system
H
- HF
- high frequency
- HVAR
- hybrid variational scheme
- Hz, cps
- cycles per second
I
- IGY
- International Geophysical Year
- Im
- imaginary part
- IOP
- intensive observing/observation period
- IR
- infrared
- ITCZ
- intertropical convergence zone
- IWC
- ice water content
J
- JEBAR
- joint effect of baroclinicity and relief
- JJA
- June–August
K
- KdV
- Korteweg–de Vries
- KPP
- K-profile parameterization
L
- LAI
- leaf area index
- LCL
- lifting condensation level
- LES
- large-eddy simulation
- LFC
- level of free convection
- lhs
- left-hand side
- LSM
- land surface model
- LST
- local standard time
- LT
- local time
- LWC
- liquid water content
- LWP
- liquid water path
M
- MAE
- mean absolute error
- MAM
- March–May
- MBL
- marine boundary layer
- MCS
- mesoscale convective system
- METAR
- aviation routine weather report
- min
- minute
- MJO
- Madden–Julian oscillation
- mks
- meter-kilogram-second
- MODE
- Method for Object-Based Diagnostic Evaluation
- mol wt
- molecular weight
- MOS
- model output statistics
- MSL
- above mean sea level
- MUCAPE
- most unstable CAPE
- MUCIN
- most unstable CIN
- MYJ
- Mellor–Yamada–Janjić
- MYNN
- Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino
N
- NAO
- North Atlantic Oscillation
- NDVI
- normalized difference vegetation index
- NGO
- nongovernmental organization
- NH
- Northern Hemisphere
- NWP
- numerical weather prediction
O
- ODE
- ordinary differential equation
- OGCM
- ocean GCM
- OLR
- outgoing longwave radiation
- OSSE
- observing system simulation experiment
P
- PBL
- planetary boundary layer
- PCA
- principal component analysis
- PDE
- partial differential equation
- PDF/pdf
- probability density/distribution function
- PDO
- Pacific decadal oscillation
- PDSI
- Palmer drought severity index
- PM2.5; PM10
- particulate matter that is smaller than 2.5 (10) μm in diameter
- POD
- probability of detection
- PoP
- probability of precipitation
- ppb
- parts per billion
- PPI
- plan position indicator
- ppm
- parts per million
- ppmv
- parts per million by volume
- PRF
- pulse repetition frequency
- psu
- practical salinity unit
- PV
- potential vorticity
Q
- QBO
- quasi-biennial oscillation
- QPE
- quantitative precipitation estimation
- QPF
- quantitative precipitation forecast
R
- R/V
- research vessel
- RAFOS
- not an acronym; no expansion
- Re
- real part
- ReLU
- rectified linear unit
- RH
- relative humidity
- RHI
- range–height indicator
- rhs
- right-hand side
- rms/RMS
- root-mean-square
- rmse/RMSE
- root-mean-square error
- RMW
- radius of maximum winds
- RT
- radiative transfer
S
- SACZ
- South Atlantic convergence zone
- SH
- Southern Hemisphere
- SI units
- International System of Units
- SLP
- sea level pressure
- SNR
- signal-to-noise ratio
- SOFAR
- sound fixing and ranging
- SOI
- Southern Oscillation index
- SON
- September–November
- SPCZ
- South Pacific convergence zone
- SSA
- sea surface anomaly
- SSH
- sea surface height
- SST
- sea surface temperature
- SSTA
- sea surface temperature anomaly
- STEM/STEAM
- science, technology, engineering (arts), and math
- STP
- significant tornado parameter
- STP
- standard temperature and pressure
- SVAT
- soil–vegetation–atmosphere transfer
- SVD
- singular value decomposition
- SWE
- snow water equivalent
T
- THC
- thermohaline circulation
- TKE
- turbulent/turbulence kinetic energy
- TOA
- top of the atmosphere
- TPW
- total precipitable water
U
- UHF
- ultrahigh-frequency
- UHI
- urban heat island
- UTC
- coordinated universal time
- UTM
- universal transverse Mercator
- UV
- ultraviolet
V
- VAD
- velocity–azimuth display
- VHF
- very high frequency
- VIL
- vertically integrated liquid water content
W
- w.r.t.
- with respect to
- WDM6
- WRF double-moment 6-class
- WES
- wind–evaporation–SST [often with “feedback”]
- WISHE
- wind-induced surface heat exchange
- WKBJ
- Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin–Jeffreys (sometimes just WKB)
X
- XBT
- expendable bathythermograph
- XCTD
- expendable CTD
Y
- yr
- year
Computer terms
- ASCII
- American Standard Code for Information Exchange
- BUFR
- Binary Universal Form for Representation of Meteorological Data
- CD-ROM
- compact disc read-only memory
- CPU
- central processing unit
- CSV
- comma-separated values
- DOS
- Disk Operating System
- Fortran
- Formula Translating System
- FTP
- file transfer protocol
- HTML
- Hypertext Markup Language
- IDL
- Interactive Data Language
- IP
- Internet protocol
- LAN
- local area network
- MATLAB
- matrix laboratory
- MySQL
- My Structured Query Language
- netCDF
- Network Common Data Form
- OS/2
- Operating System/2
- PC
- personal computer
- Portable Document Format
- RAM
- random-access memory
- ROM
- read-only memory
- SGML
- Standard Generalized Markup Language
- TCP/IP
- Transmission Control Protocol/Internet protocol suite
- UNIX/Unix
- a computer operating system
- URL
- uniform resource locator
- USB
- universal serial bus
- Wi-Fi
- local area wireless network
- XML
- Extensible Markup Language
Institutions and units of institutions
A
- AFGL
- Air Force Geophysics Laboratory
- AOML
- Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
- APDRC
- Asia–Pacific Data-Research Center
- ARL
- Air Resources Laboratory
- ASCE
- American Society of Civil Engineers
B
- BCC
- Beijing Climate Center
- BMRC
- Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre
- BOEM
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- BoM
- Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)
C
- CAWCR
- Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research
- CCCma
- Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis
- CCSR
- Center for Climate System Research
- CDAAC
- COSMIC Data Analysis and Archive Center
- CERFACS
- Centre Européen de Recherche et de Formation Avancée en Calcul Scientifique
- CIMSS
- Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies
- CIRA
- Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere
- CIRES
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
- CISESS
- Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies
- CIWRO
- Cooperative Institute for Severe and High Impact Weather Research and Operations
- CLIVAR
- Climate and Ocean: Variability, Predictability and Change (for U.S. CLIVAR group: U.S. Climate Variability and Predictability Program)
- CLS
- Collecte Localisation Satellites
- CMC
- Canadian Meteorological Centre
- CMCC
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici
- CNES
- Centre National d’Études Spatiales
- CNRS
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- COLA
- Center for Ocean–Land–Atmosphere Studies
- COSMO
- Consortium for Small-Scale Modeling (maintains COSMO-Model or COSMO Model)
- CPC
- Climate Prediction Center
- CPHC
- Central Pacific Hurricane Center
- CRU
- Climatic Research Unit
- CSIRO
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
- CWB
- Central Weather Bureau (Taiwan)
D
- DAO
- Data Assimilation Office (this is now the GMAO)
- DKRZ
- German Climate Computing Centre (Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum)
- DOE
- U.S. Department of Energy
- DWD
- German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst)
E
- ECCO
- Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean
- ECMWF
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
- EPA
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- ESA
- European Space Agency
- ESRL
- Earth System Research Laboratory
- ETH
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule
- EUMETSAT
- European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
F
- FAO
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- FEMA
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- FRCGC
- Frontier Research Center for Global Change
G
- GES DISC
- Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center
- GFDL
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
- GISS
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies
- GLERL
- Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
- GMAO
- Global Modeling and Assimilation Office
- GPCC
- Global Precipitation Climatology Centre
- GSFC
- Goddard Space Flight Center
I
- IAP
- Institute of Atmospheric Physics
- IAPSO
- The International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans
- INGV
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
- INM
- Instituto Nacional de Meteorología (Spain)
- IPCC
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- IPRC
- International Pacific Research Center
- IPSL
- L’Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace
- IRI
- International Research Institute for Climate and Society
J
- JAMSTEC
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
- JAXA
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- JCOMM
- Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology
- JISAO
- Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean
- JMA
- Japan Meteorological Agency
- JPL
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- JTWC
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center
K
- KNMI
- Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut)
- KMA
- Korea Meteorological Administration
L
- LASG
- State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
- LDEO
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
- LEGOS
- Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiale
- LMD
- Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique
- LODYC
- Laboratoire d’Océanographic Dynamique et de Climatologie (France)
M
- MDL
- Meteorological Development Laboratory
- MEST
- Korean Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology
- MeteoSwiss
- Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
- MPI
- Max Planck Institute
- MSC
- Meteorological Service of Canada
N
- NASA
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- NCAR
- National Center for Atmospheric Research
- NCDC
- National Climatic Data Center
- NCEI
- National Centers for Environmental Information
- NCEP
- National Centers for Environmental Prediction
- NDBC
- National Data Buoy Center
- NERC
- Natural Environment Research Council
- NESDIS
- National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
- NGDC
- National Geophysical Data Center
- NHC
- National Hurricane Center
- NOAA
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- NOC
- National Oceanography Centre
- NODC
- National Oceanographic Data Center
- NRL
- Naval Research Laboratory
- NSF
- National Science Foundation
- NSFC
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- NSIDC
- National Snow and Ice Data Center
- NSSL
- National Severe Storms Laboratory
- NWS
- National Weather Service
O
- OAR
- Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
- ONR
- Office of Naval Research
P
- PCMDI
- Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison
- PMEL
- Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
- PO.DAAC
- Physical Oceanography Distributed Active Archive Center
Q
- QCCCE
- Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence
U
- UCAR
- University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
- UKMO
- Met Office
- USDA
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- USDM
- U.S. Drought Monitor
- USGS
- U.S. Geological Survey
W
- WCRP
- World Climate Research Programme
- WGCM
- Working Group on Coupled Modelling
- WHOI
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- WMO
- World Meteorological Organization
Y
- YSU
- Yonsei University
Programs, experiments, satellites, and instruments
- 20C3M
- 20th Century Climate in Coupled Models
- 20CR
- Twentieth Century Reanalysis
- 3MI
- Multi-viewing, Multi-channel, Multi-polarization (or -polarisation) Imager
A
- ACARS
- Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
- AERONET
- Aerosol Robotic Network
- AIRS
- Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
- AMIP
- Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project
- AMSR
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer
- AMSR-E
- Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (EOS)
- AMSU
- Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
- APHRODITE
- Asian Precipitation—Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of Water Resources
- AR4
- Fourth Assessment Report
- ARM
- Atmospheric Radiation Measurement
- ASCAT
- Advanced Scatterometer
- ASOS
- Automated Surface Observing System
- ASTER
- Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer
- ASTEX
- Atlantic Stratocumulus Transition Experiment
- ATOVS
- Advanced TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder
- AVHRR
- Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
- AVISO
- Archiving, Validation, and Interpretation of Satellite Oceanographic Data
- AWIPS
- Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System
- AWOS
- Automated Weather Observing System
B
- BAMEX
- Bow Echo and Mesoscale Convective Vortex Experiment
- BATS
- Biosphere–Atmosphere Transfer Scheme
- BOBMEX
- Bay of Bengal Monsoon Experiment
- BOMEX
- Barbados Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment
- BOREAS
- Boreal Ecosystem–Atmosphere Study
- BSRN
- Baseline Surface Radiation Network
C
- CALIOP
- Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization
- CALIPSO
- Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations
- CAPS
- Cloud, Aerosol, Precipitation Spectrometer
- CART
- Cloud and Radiation Testbed
- CAS
- Cloud and Aerosol Spectrometer
- CASES-99
- 1999 Cooperative Atmosphere–Surface Exchange Study
- CBLAST
- Coupled Boundary Layers Air–Sea Transfer
- CERES
- Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System
- CFMIP
- Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project
- CFSR
- Climate Forecast System Reanalysis
- CHAMP
- Challenging Minisatellite Payload
- C-MAN
- Coastal-Marine Automated Network
- CMAP
- Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation
- CMIP
- Coupled Model Intercomparison Project
- CMIPx
- phase x of CMIP [x = 3, 5, or 6 (planned)]
- COADS
- Comprehensive Ocean–Atmosphere Data Set
- COARE
- Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment
- CoCoRaHS
- Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network
- CONTRAIL
- Comprehensive Observation Network for Trace Gases by Airliner
- COOP
- Cooperative Observer Program
- CORE
- Co-ordinated Ocean–Ice Reference Experiments (run by CLIVAR)
- COSMIC
- Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (also Cosmic-Ray Soil Moisture Interaction Code)
- COSMOS
- Cosmic-Ray Soil Moisture Observing System
- COSP
- The CFMIP Observation Simulator Package
- CRYSTAL-FACE
- Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers–Florida-Area Cirrus Experiment
- CSU–CHILL
- Colorado State University–University of Chicago–Illinois State Water Survey
- CuPIDO
- Cumulus Photogrammetric, In Situ, and Doppler Observations
D
- DART
- Data Assimilation Research Testbed
- DIMES
- Diapycnal and Isopycnal Mixing Experiment in the Southern Ocean
- DMSP
- Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
- DOCIMS
- Drizzle and Open Cells in Marine Stratocumulus field study
- DOTSTAR
- Dropsonde Observations for Typhoon Surveillance near the Taiwan Region
- DYCOMS II
- Second Dynamics and Chemistry of the Marine Stratocumulus field study
- DYNAMO
- Dynamics of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (also Dynamics of North Atlantic Models)
E
- EarthCARE
- Earth Cloud, Aerosol, and Radiation Explorer
- EBAF
- Energy Balanced and Filled
- ECA&D
- European Climate Assessment and Dataset
- EC-EARTH
- EC-Earth Consortium (and its Earth system model)
- EDAS
- Eta Data Assimilation System
- ELDORA
- Electra Doppler Radar
- ENVI
- Environment for Visualizing Images
- E-OBS
- European daily high-resolution gridded dataset
- EOS
- Earth Observing System
- EOSDIS
- Earth Observing System Data Information System
- EPIC
- Eastern Pacific Investigation of Climate Processes in the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere System
- ER-2
- no expansion (NASA aircraft)
- ERA
- ECMWF Re-Analysis (this prefix is now used by ECMWF as a product name without expansion)
- ERA5
- fifth major global reanalysis produced by ECMWF
- ERA-15
- 15-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis
- ERA-40
- 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis
- ERA-Interim
- European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) interim reanalysis
- ERBE
- Earth Radiation Budget Experiment
- ERBS
- Earth Radiation Budget Satellite
- EROS
- Earth Resources Observation and Science
- ERS
- European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS roman but ERS-2 italic)
- ERSST
- Extended Reconstructed SST
- ERSST.v3b
- Extended Reconstructed SST, version 3b
- ESWD
- European Severe Weather Database
- ETCCDI
- Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices
- ETM+
- Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus
- ETOP05
- Elevation Data for Areas Greater than 50 degrees North
- Etopo
- no expansion (topographical maps of Canada developed by a company called Etopo)
- ETOPO2v2
- 2-minute gridded elevations/bathymetry for the world
- ETOPO5
- 5-minute gridded elevations/bathymetry for the world
F
- FASTEX
- Fronts and Atlantic Storm Track Experiment
- FGGE
- First Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) Global Experiment
- FIRE
- First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment
- FIRE-ACE
- First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment-Arctic Cloud Experiment
- FLAME
- Family of Linked Atlantic Model Experiments
- FSSP
- forward scattering spectrometer probe (initial caps when referring to PMS product)
G
- GAME
- Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Asian Monsoon Experiment
- GARP
- Global Atmospheric Research Program
- GATE
- Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) Atlantic Tropical Experiment
- GCE
- Goddard Cumulus Ensemble
- GCSS
- GEWEX Cloud System Study
- GEBA
- Global Energy Balance Archive
- GECCO
- German contribution to Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean
- GEMPAK
- General Meteorological Package
- GEOS
- Goddard Earth Observing System (not a satellite)
- GEOSS
- Global Earth Observation System of Systems
- GERB
- Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget
- GEWEX
- Global Energy and Water Exchanges project (formerly Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment)
- GFS
- Global Forecast System [operated by NCEP]
- GHRSST
- Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature (without hyphen between high resolution, see https://www.ghrsst.org/)
- GISST
- Global Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature dataset
- GISTEMP
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) Surface Temperature Analysis
- GLACE
- Global Land–Atmosphere Coupling Experiment
- GLDAS
- Global Land Data Assimilation System
- GLOWA
- Global Change and the Hydrological Cycle
- GMI
- Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager
- GODAE
- Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment
- GODAS
- Global Ocean Data Assimilation System
- GOES
- Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-1)
- GPCP
- Global Precipitation Climatology Project
- GPI
- Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) precipitation index
- GPM
- Global Precipitation Measurement
- GPROF
- Goddard profiling algorithm
- GR-1
- see R-1
- GR-2
- see R-2
- GRACE
- Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
- GRIP
- Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (also Greenland Ice Core Project)
- GSI
- Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation analysis system
- GSMaP
- Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation
- GSOP
- Global Synthesis and Observations Panel
- GSS
- Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) Cloud System Study
- GSSTF
- Goddard Satellite-based Surface Turbulent Fluxes
- GSWP
- Global Soil Wetness Project
- GTOPO30
- Global 30 arc s elevation dataset
H
- HadCRUT4
- Hadley Centre/Climatic Research Unit, version 4
- HadISST
- Hadley Centre Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature dataset
- HadSLP1
- First Hadley Centre Sea Level Pressure dataset
- HAPEX-MOBILHY
- Hydrological Atmospheric Pilot Experiment-Modelisation du Bilan Hydrique
- HCDN
- Hydro-Climatic Data Network
- HIRS
- High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder
- HOAPS
- Hamburg Ocean Atmosphere Parameters and Fluxes from Satellite Data
- HRDI
- High Resolution Doppler Imager
- HRST
- Historical Russian soil temperature
- HSB
- Humidity Sounder for Brazil [on board Aqua]
- HURDAT/HURDAT2
- NHC "best track" hurricane database (no caps)
- HVPS
- high-volume precipitation spectrometer
- HydroSHEDS
- Hydrological Data and Maps Based on Shuttle Elevation Derivatives at Multiple Scales
I
- IASI
- Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer
- IASI-NG
- Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer—New Generation
- IBTrACS
- International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship
- ICARTT
- International Consortium for Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation
- ICES
- International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
- ICESat
- Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat-1, ICESat-2)
- ICOADS
- International Comprehensive Ocean–Atmosphere Data Set
- IEEE
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- IGBP
- International Geosphere–Biosphere Programme
- IHOP_2002
- International H2O Project
- IMERG
- Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM
- IMILAST
- Intercomparison of mid latitude storm diagnostics (there is a space between mid and latitude; http://www.proclim.ch/imilast/index.html)
- IMPROVE-2
- second Improvement of Microphysical Parameterization through Observational Verification Experiment
- ISCCP
- International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project
- ISLSCP
- International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project
- ISS
- Integrated Sounding System (usually with NCAR)
J
- JASMINE
- Joint Air–Sea Monsoon Interaction Experiment
- JONSWAP
- Joint North Sea Wave Project
- JRA-25
- Japanese 25-year Reanalysis Project
- JRA-55
- Japanese 55-year Reanalysis
L
- LBA
- Large-Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere Experiment
- LEO
- low-Earth orbiting (add hyphen after Earth if being used as an adjective)
- LIS
- Lightning Imaging Sensor
- LMA
- Lightning Mapping Array
- LOWTRAN
- Low-Resolution Atmospheric Transmission
M
- MARGO
- Multiproxy Approach for the Reconstruction of the Glacial Ocean Surface
- MAS
- MODIS Airborne Simulator
- MAST
- Monterey Area Ship Track
- MASTER
- MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator
- M-CLASS
- Mobile Cross-Chain Loran Atmospheric Sounding System
- MERRA
- Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications
- MetOp
- Meteorological Operational satellites [series of satellites; for single satellites, e.g., Meteorological Operational Satellite-A (MetOp-A)]
- M-GLASS
- Mobile GPS/Loran Atmospheric Sounding System
- MiKlip
- Decadal Predictions (Mittelfristige Klimaprognosen)
- MidCiX
- Middle Latitude Cirrus Experiment
- MISR
- Multiangle Imaging SpectroRadiometer
- MLS
- Microwave Limb Sounder
- MODIS
- Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
- MODTRAN
- moderate resolution atmospheric transmission
- MOSES
- Met Office Surface Exchange Scheme
- MOZAIC
- Measurement of Ozone and Water Vapor by Airbus In-Service
- MPDATA
- multidimensional positive definite advection transport algorithm
- MRMS
- Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system
- MSS
- Multispectral Scanner
- MSU
- Microwave Sounding Unit
N
- NARCCAP
- North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program
- NARR
- North American Regional Reanalysis
- NCODA
- Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation
- NEXRAD
- Next Generation Weather Radar
- NLDAS
- North American Land Data Assimilation System
- NLDN
- National Lightning Detection Network
- NMQ
- National Mosaic and Multi-Sensor Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE)
- NPOESS
- National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
- NSIPP
- NASA’s Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction Project
- NVAP
- NASA’s Water Vapor Project
O
- OAFlux
- objectively analyzed air–sea fluxes
- OAP
- optical array probe
- OLI
- Operational Land Imager
- OPTRAN
- optical path transmittance
- OSCAR
- Ocean Surface Currents Analyses–Real Time
- OWLeS
- Ontario Winter Lake-effect Systems (OWLeS) field campaign
P
- (P)ALACE
- (profiling) autonomous Lagrangian circulation explorer
- PATMOS-x
- Pathfinder Atmospheres–Extended
- PCASP
- passive cavity aerosol spectrometer probe
- PERSIANN
- Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information Using Artificial Neural Networks
- PILPS
- Project for the Intercomparison of Land-Surface Parameterization Schemes
- PIRATA
- Prediction and Research Moored Array in the Tropical Atlantic
- PIZA
- Population-Interaction Zones for Agriculture
- PMIP
- Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project
- POES
- Polar(-orbiting) Operational Environmental Satellite
- POLDER
- Polarization and Directionality of the Earth's Reflectances
- PR
- [TRMM] Precipitation Radar
- PREDICT
- Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud-systems in the Tropics
- PRE-STORM
- Preliminary Regional Experiment for STORM-Central
- PROBE
- Program for Boundary Layers in the Environment
- PRUDENCE
- Prediction of Regional Scenarios and Uncertainties for Defining European Climate Change Risks and Effects
Q
- QuikSCAT
- Quick Scatterometer (no italics, NASA is fine if included by author)
R
- R-1
- the Kalnay et al. (1996)/Kistler et al. (2001) NCEP–NCAR reanalyses (aka Reanalysis-1, Global Reanalysis 1, GR-1, GR1, R1, and NCEP-1)
- R-2
- NCEP–DOE AMIP-II reanalysis (also referred to as Reanalysis-2, Global Reanalysis 2, GR-2, GR2, R2, and NCEP-2)
- RADS
- Radar Altimeter Database System
- RAINEX
- Hurricane Rainband and Intensity Change Experiment
- RAPID–MOCHA
- Rapid Climate Change–Meridional Overturning Circulation and Heatflux Array
- RASS
- radio acoustic sounding system
- READER
- Reference Antarctic Data for Environmental Research
- REAL
- Raman-shifted Eye-safe Aerosol Lidar
- RTTOV
- Radiative Transfer for TOVS
- RUC
- Rapid Update Cycle
S
- S2S
- subseasonal to seasonal (caps are used for the Subseasonal to Seasonal Prediction project)
- SAGE
- Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment
- SCIAMACHY
- Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography
- SCSMEX
- South China Sea Monsoon Experiment
- SeaWiFS
- Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor
- SEVIRI
- Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager
- SHADOZ
- Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes
- SHEBA
- Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean
- SIRS
- Solar and Infrared Radiation Station
- SIRTA
- Site Instrumental de Recherche en Télédétection Atmosphérique
- SMAP
- Soil Moisture Active Passive (mission)
- SMMR
- Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer
- SMOS
- Soil Moisture Ocean Salinity (mission/satellite)
- SNOTEL
- Snowpack Telemetry
- SODA
- Simple Ocean Data Assimilation
- SOLAS
- Surface Ocean–Lower Atmosphere Study
- S-Pol
- S-band dual-polarization Doppler radar
- SPOT
- Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre
- SRB
- surface radiation budget (caps for the NASA/GEWEX database)
- SRES
- Special Report on Emissions Scenarios
- SRTM
- Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
- SRTM30
- SRTM global bathymetry and elevation data at 30 arc s resolution
- SRTM30_PLUS
- SRTM global bathymetry and elevation data at 30 arc s resolution with data voids filled
- SSALTO
- Segment Sol multimissions d’ALTimétrie, d’Orbitographie et de localisation précise
- SSM/I
- Special Sensor Microwave Imager
- SSM/IS [Dept. of Defense]; SSMIS [NOAA]
- Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder
- SSM/T
- Special Sensor Microwave Temperature Profiler
- SSU
- Stratospheric Sounding Unit
- STORM-FEST
- Storm-scale Operational and Research Meteorology-Fronts Experiment Systems Test
- Suomi NPP/SNPP
- Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership
- SURFRAD
- Surface Radiation Budget Network
T
- TAO
- Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (caps when buoy array is being discussed)
- TAR
- Third Assessment Report
- TCPF
- Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Feature database
- TELEX
- Thunderstorm Electrification and Lightning Experiment
- TEPPS
- Tropical East Pacific Process Studies
- THORPEX
- The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment
- TIGGE
- THORPEX Interactive Grand Global Ensemble
- TIROS
- Television and Infrared Observation Satellite
- TIRS
- Thermal Infared Sensor
- TM
- Thematic Mapper (as in Landsat TM)
- TMI
- Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager
- TMPA
- Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis
- TOGA COARE
- Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment
- TOMS
- Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
- TOPEX
- Ocean Topography Experiment [often (TOPEX)/Poseidon (T/P)]
- TOVS
- TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder
- T-REX
- Terrain-Induced Rotor Experiment
- TRITON
- Triangle Trans-Ocean Buoy Network
- TRMM
- Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
U
- UARS
- Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
- UAV
- unmanned aerial vehicle (caps are used for ARM Project’s Unmanned Aerospace Vehicle)
- UNEP
- United Nations Environment Programme
- UNFCCC
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
- USHCN
- U.S. Historical Climatology Network
V
- VAMOS
- Variability of American Monsoon Systems
- VAPIC
- Water Vapour Profiling Inter-Comparison field experiment
- VEMAP
- Vegetation-Ecosystem Modeling and Analysis Program
- VIIRS
- Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite
- VIRS
- Visible and Infrared Scanner
- VORTEX
- Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment
W
- WCR
- Wyoming Cloud Radar
- WDSS-II
- Warning Decision Support System–Integrated Information
- WEAP
- Weather Evaluation and Planning
- WOCE
- World Ocean Circulation Experiment
- WSM3
- WRF single-moment 3-class
- WSM6
- WRF single-moment 6-class microphysics scheme
- WSR-88D
- Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler
Climatic, meteorological, oceanographic, and other models
A
- ACCESS1.0
- Australian Community Climate and Earth-System Simulator, version 1.0
- ACCESS1.3
- Australian Community Climate and Earth-System Simulator, version 1.3
- ACOM2
- Australian Community Ocean Model 2
- AGISM
- Antarctic and Greenland Ice Sheet Model
- ALADIN
- Aire Limitée Adaptation Dynamique Développement International
- ALEXI
- Atmosphere–Land Exchange Inverse model
- AMD
- angular directional model
- AOGCM
- atmosphere–ocean general circulation model
- ARCSYM
- Arctic Regional Climate System Model
- AROME
- Applications of Research to Operations at Mesoscale
- ARPEGE
- Action de Recherche Petite Echelle Grande Echelle
- ARPS
- Advanced Regional Prediction System
- ARW
- Advanced Research version of WRF (see also WRF-ARW)
B
- BCC_CSM1.1
- Beijing Climate Center, Climate System Model, version 1.1
- BCC_CSM1.1(m)
- Beijing Climate Center, Climate System Model, version 1.1 (moderate resolution)
- BCCR-BCM2.0
- Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research Bergen Climate Model, version 2.0
- BMRC BAM3
- Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre Atmospheric Model, version 3
- BNU-ESM
- Beijing Normal University–Earth System Model
C
- CAM3.0
- Community Atmosphere Model, version 3.0
- CanAM4 (or AGCM4)
- Fourth Generation Canadian Atmospheric General Circulation Model
- CanCM4 (or CGCM4)
- Fourth Generation Canadian Coupled Global Climate Model
- CanESM2
- Second Generation Canadian Earth System Model
- CCM
- Community Climate Model (NCAR) [or Chemistry–Climate Model (NASA GISS)]; should be specified
- CCSM2
- Community Climate System Model, version 2
- CCSM3
- Community Climate System Model, version 3
- CCSM4
- Community Climate System Model, version 4
- CDAS
- Climate Data Assimilation System
- CDR
- climate data record
- CESM1(BGC)
- Community Earth System Model, version 1 (biogeochemistry, or carbon cycle)
- CESM1(CAM5)
- Community Earth System Model, version 1 (Community Atmosphere Model, version 5)
- CESM1(CISM)
- Community Earth System Model, version 1 (ice sheet model)
- CESM1(FASTCHEM)
- Community Earth System Model, version 1 [Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM-chem)]
- CESM1(WACCM)
- Community Earth System Model, version 1 (Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model)
- CFS or CFSv1
- Climate Forecast System (sometimes used alone or in conjunction with version 1)
- CFSv2
- Climate Forecast System, version 2
- CGCM
- coupled atmosphere–ocean general circulation model
- CGCM3.1
- CCCma Coupled Global Climate Model, version 3.1 (may also include T47 or T63 for spectral resolution of model)
- CICE
- Los Alamos Sea Ice Model or Community Ice Code
- CISM
- Community Ice Sheet Model
- CLIMBER
- Climate and Biosphere Model
- CLIO
- Coupled Large-Scale Ice Ocean
- CLIPER
- climatology and persistence statistical models
- CLM3
- Community Land Model, version 3
- CMAM
- Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model
- CMAQ
- Community Multiscale Air Quality
- CMCC-CESM
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici Carbon Cycle Earth System Model
- CMCC-CM
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici Climate Model
- CMCC-CMS
- Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici Stratosphere-resolving Climate Model
- CMOC
- Canadian Model of Ocean Carbon
- CMORPH
- CPC morphing technique
- CNRM-CM3
- Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques Coupled Global Climate Model, version 3
- CNRM-CM5
- Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques Coupled Global Climate Model, version 5
- COAMPS
- Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System
- COART
- Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Radiative Transfer Model
- COCO4.5
- Center for Climate System Research (CCSR) Ocean Component Model, version 4.5 [CCSR is now the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI) at the U. of Tokyo]
- CRCM
- Canadian Regional Climate Model
- CSIM
- Community Sea Ice Model
- CSIRO Mk3.0
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Mark 3.0
- CSIRO Mk3.6.0
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Mark 3.6.0
- CSM1.0
- Climate System Model, version 1.0
- CTEM
- Canadian Terrestrial Ecosystem Model
D
- DARLAM
- Division of Atmospheric Research Limited Area Model
- DEMETER
- Development of a European Multimodel Ensemble System for Seasonal-to-Interannual Prediction
- DGVM
- dynamic global vegetation model
- DISORT
- Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer model
- DOCN
- Climatological Data Ocean Model
E
- ECBilt/CLIO
- Earth system models of intermediate complexity Climate deBilt/Coupled large-scale ice ocean
- EC-EARTH
- European Consortium Earth System Model
- ECHAM5
- no expansion used; it is very long and involves ECMWF, Hamburg, etc. (also ECHAM4)
- ECHO-G
- ECHAM4 and the global Hamburg Ocean Primitive Equation
- ECPC-RSM
- Experimental Climate Prediction Center Regional Spectral Model
- EMBS
- Episodic mixing and buoyancy-sorting models
- EMIC
- Earth system models of intermediate complexity
- ENSEMBLES
- Ensemble-Based Predictions of Climate Changes and Their Impacts
- ESM
- Earth system model
- ESGF
- Earth System Grid Federation
- ESMF
- Earth System Modeling Framework
F
- FAIR 2.0
- Framework to Assess International Regimes for Differentation of Commitments, version 2.0
- FAMOUS
- Fast Met Office/U.K. Universities Simulator
- FASTEM
- Fast Emissivity Model
- FGOALS-g1.0
- Flexible Global Ocean–Atmosphere–Land System Model, gridpoint version 1.0 (source reference is for "g2," but similar)
- FGOALS-s2
- Flexible Global Ocean–Atmosphere–Land System Model, second spectral version
- FIO-ESM
- First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) Earth System Model (ESM)
- FOAM-LPJ
- Fast Ocean Atmosphere Model–Lund Potsdam Jena Land Model
- FROALS
- Flexible Regional Ocean Atmosphere Land System
- FSUGSM
- Florida State University Global Spectral Model
G
- GCM
- general circulation model (OR global climate model)
- GDAS
- Global Data Assimilation System
- GEFS
- Global Ensemble Forecast System
- GEOS-5
- Goddard Earth Observing System Model, version 5
- GFDL CM2.0
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model, version 2.0
- GFDL CM2.1
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model, version 2.1
- GFDL CM2.5
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model, version 2.5
- GFDL CM3
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model, version 3
- GFDL-ESM2G
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model with GOLD component
- GFDL-ESM2M
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model with MOM, version 4 component
- GFS
- Global Forecast System [may include cycle (cy) and revision (r) information]
- GISS-AOM
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Atmosphere–Ocean Model [also GISS-Fast AOM (FAOM)]
- GISS-E2-H
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies Model E2, coupled with HYCOM (see expansion below)
- GISS-E2-R
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies Model E2, coupled with the Russell ocean model
- GISS-E2CS-H/R
- GISS Model E2 using cubed-sphere grid coupled with either HYCOM or Russell
- GISS-E2-H/R-CC
- GISS Model E2, coupled with either HYCOM or Russell and interactive terrestrial carbon cycle (and oceanic biogeochemistry)
- GISS-ER
- Goddard Institute for Space Studies Model E, coupled with the Russell ocean model
- GOCART
- Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport model
- GOLD
- Generalized Ocean Layer Dynamics
H
- HadAM3
- Hadley Centre Atmosphere Model, version 3
- HadCM3
- Hadley Centre Coupled Model, version 3
- HadGEM1
- Hadley Centre Global Environment Model, version 1
- HadGEMx-yy
- Hadley Centre Global Environment Model, version x (x = 1, 2, or 3)
- with yy configurations for HadGEM2 and HadGEM3:
- A = Atmosphere and land
- AO = A and O configurations
- CC = Carbon Cycle (includes AO configuration with biogeochemistry, sometimes includes CCS, with S for stratospheric processes)
- ES = Earth System (includes CC configuration with chemistry)
- GC = Global Coupled (e.g., HadGEM3-GC3.1 is the Global Coupled 3.1 configuration)
- O = Ocean and sea ice
- RA = Regional Atmosphere
- HadRM3
- Hadley Centre Regional Climate Model, version 3
- HARMONIE
- HIRLAM–ALADIN Research on Mesoscale Operational NWP in Euromed
- HBV
- Water Balance Department of the Hydrological Bureau (Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning) model
- HiRAM
- High Resolution Atmospheric Model (sometimes configurations -C180 and -C360 are included denoting 180 x 180 and 360 x 360 gridpoint resolutions, respectively)
- HIRHAM
- no expansion
- HIRLAM
- High Resolution Limited Area Model
- HOPE
- Hamburg Ocean Primitive Equation Model (sometimes with “-G” for “global”)
- HRRR
- High-Resolution Rapid Refresh
- HSAMI
- Service Hydrométéorologique Apports Modules Intermédiaires
- HTESSEL
- Hydrology Tiled ECMWF Scheme of Surface Exchanges over Land
- HWRF
- Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model
- HYCOM
- Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model
- HyMAP
- Hydrological Modeling and Analysis Platform
- HYSPLIT
- Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model
I
- IBIS
- Integrated Biosphere Simulator
- IFS
- Integrated Forecasting System [may include cycle (cy) and revision (r) information]
- IMAGE
- Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment
- INGV-SXG
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, SINTEX-G
- INM-CM3.0
- Institute of Numerical Mathematics Coupled Model, version 3.0
- INM-CM4.0
- Institute of Numerical Mathematics Coupled Model, version 4.0
- IPSL-CM4
- L’Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace Coupled Model, version 4
- IPSL-CM5A-LR
- L’Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace Coupled Model, version 5A, low resolution
- IPSL-CM5A-MR
- L’Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace Coupled Model, version 5A, mid resolution
- IPSL-CM5B-LR
- L’Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace Coupled Model, version 5B, low resolution
- ISBA
- Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere
J
- JSBACH
- Jena Scheme for Biosphere–Atmosphere Coupling in Hamburg
- JULES
- Joint UK Land Environment Simulator
L
- LDAS
- Land Data Assimilation System
- LEAF-2
- Land Ecosystem–Atmosphere Feedback model, version 2
- LICOM
- State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics/Institute of Atmospheric Physics (LASG/IAP) Climate Ocean Model
- LIM
- Louvain-la-Neuve Sea Ice Model
- LMDZ
- Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique zoom model
- LOCH
- Liège Ocean Carbon Heteronomous model
- LOVECLIM
- LOCH–VECODE–ECBILT–CLIO–AGISM Model (ESM)
M
- MAGICC
- Model for the Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Induced Climate Change
- MAPS
- Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System
- MCIM
- mixed cloud isotopic model
- Meso-NH
- no expansion
- MIROC3.2 (hires)
- Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, version 3.2 (high resolution)
- MIROC3.2 (medres)
- Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, version 3.2 (medium resolution)
- MIROC4h
- Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, version 4 (high resolution)
- MIROC5
- Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, version 5
- MIROC-ESM
- Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, Earth System Model
- MIROC-ESM-CHEM
- Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, Earth System Model, Chemistry Coupled
- MITgcm
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology General Circulation Model
- MIUBECHOG
- Meteorological Institute of the University of Bonn, ECHO-G Model
- MM5
- Fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model
- MODFLOW
- Modular three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater flow model
- MOGREPS
- Met Office Global and Regional Ensemble Prediction System
- MOM
- Modular Ocean Model
- MOSES
- Met Office Surface Exchange Scheme
- MPAS
- Model for Prediction Across Scales
- MPI-ESM-LR
- Max Planck Institute Earth System Model, low resolution
- MPI-ESM-MR
- Max Planck Institute Earth System Model, medium resolution
- MPI-ESM-P
- Max Planck Institute Earth System Model, paleoclimate
- MPI-OM
- Max Planck Institute Ocean Model
- MRF
- Medium-Range Forecast Model (predecessor to GFS, 2002)
- MRI-AGCM3.2H
- Meteorological Research Institute Atmospheric General Circulation Model, version 3.2 (high resolution)
- MRI-AGCM3.2S
- Meteorological Research Institute Atmospheric General Circulation Model, version 3.2 (super-high resolution)
- MRI-CGCM1
- Meteorological Research Institute Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean General Circulation Model, version 1
- MRI-CGCM2.3.2a
- Meteorological Research Institute Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean General Circulation Model, version 2.3.2a
- MRI-CGCM3
- Meteorological Research Institute Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean General Circulation Model, version 3
- MRI-ESM1
- Meteorological Research Institute Earth System Model, version 1
N
- NAM
- North American Mesoscale Forecast System
- NEWS-e
- NSSL Experimental Warn-on-Forecast System for ensembles
- NEMO
- Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean
- NMM
- Nonhydrostatic Mesoscale Model [typically used in conjunction with WRF (WRF-NMM)]
- Noah
- NOAA/NCEP–Oregon State University–Air Force Research Laboratory–NOAA/Office of Hydrology land surface model
- Noah-MP
- Noah LSM with multiparameterization (or multiphysics) options
- NOGAPS
- Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System
- NorESM1-M
- Norwegian Earth System Model, version 1 (intermediate resolution)
- NorESM1-ME
- NorESM1-M with carbon cycling (and biogeochemistry)
- NSHARP
- Skew-T Hodograph Analysis and Research Program
O
- OASIS 2.0
- Ocean Atmosphere Sea Ice Soil, version 2.0
- OGCM
- Ocean General Circulation Model
- OFES
- Ocean General Circulation Model for the Earth Simulator
- OISST2 or OISSTv2
- Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature, version 2
- OPA
- Océan Parallélisé [e.g., Océan Parallélisé (OPA) 8.1, now part of NEMO]
- OPYC3
- Ocean Isopycnal Model
- ORCA
- no expansion (an OGCM grid mesh, e.g., ORCA2 for 2° and ORCA05 for 0.5° projection)
- ORCHIDEE
- Organizing Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic Ecosystems
P
- PCM
- Parallel Climate Model
- PERSIANN-CCS
- PERSIANN–Cloud Classification System
- PERSIANN-CDR
- PERSIANN–Climate Data Record
- POAMA-1
- Predictive Ocean Atmosphere Model for Australia
- POEM
- Potsdam Earth Model
- POM
- Princeton Ocean Model
- POP
- Parallel Ocean Program
- PORT
- Parallel Offline Radiative Transfer
- PPE
- perturbed physics ensemble
- PRISM
- Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model
- PRMS
- Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System
Q
- QTCM1
- Quasi-equilibrium Tropical Circulation Model
R
- RACMO2
- Regional Atmospheric Climate Model, version 2
- RAMS
- Regional Atmospheric Modeling System
- RAP
- Rapid Refresh
- RCA
- Rossby Center Regional Atmospheric Model
- RCP
- representative concentration pathway
- RCM
- regional climate model (refers to a generic regional climate model)
- RegCM3
- Regional Climate Model, version 3
- ROMS
- Regional Ocean Modeling System
- RRTM
- Rapid Radiative Transfer Model
- RRTMG
- RRTM for GCMs
- RUC
- Rapid Update Cycle
S
- SAC-SMA
- Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting (SAC-SMA) model
- SECHIBA
- Schématisation des Échanges Hydriques à l’Interface Biosphère et l'Atmosphère
- SHARPpy
- Sounding and Hodograph Analysis and Research Program in Python
- SHIFOR
- Statistical Hurricane Intensity Forecast model
- SHIPS
- Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme
- SiB
- Simple Biosphere Model
- SINTEX
- Scale Interaction Experiment
- SINTEX-F
- SINTEX–Frontier Research Center for Global Change (FRCGC) model
- SINTEX-G
- see INGV-SXG
- SOM
- slab ocean model
- SWAT
- Soil and Water Assessment Tool
T
- TITAN
- Thunderstorm Identification, Tracking, Analysis, and Nowcasting
- TOPMODEL
- not an acronym; no expansion
- TRIFFID
- Top-down Representation of Interactive Foliage and Flora Including Dynamics
- TPXO
- Oregon State University TOPEX/Poseidon Global Inverse Solution tidal model
U
- UVic ESCM
- University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model
V
- VECODE
- Vegetation Continuous Description
- VIC
- Variable Infiltration Capacity model
W
- WACCM
- Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model
- WRF
- Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model; Model after acronym per developers
- WRF-ARW
- Advanced Research version of WRF (see also ARW)