| Acronym | Meaning |
| CAC | Climate Analysis Center |
| TOS | TIROS Operational Satellite |
| MODIS | MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (EOS) |
| CFC | ChloroFluoroCarbon |
| NESDIS | National Environmental Satellite |
| AO&SS | Atmospheric |
| C | Centigrade |
| SAFIRE | Spectroscopy Of The Atmosphere Using Far InfraRed Emission |
| ESSA | Environmental Science Services Administration (preceded NOAA) |
| AVIRIS | Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer (JPL) |