DMSP Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

ECMWF European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

ENSO El Niño-Southern Oscillation

ENVISAT Environmental Satellite

EOS Earth Observing System

FNMOC Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center

FY-3 Fengyun-3

GCOM Global Change Observing Mission

GEO Group on Earth Observations

GEWEX Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment

GHz gigahertz

GOES Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites

GPM Global Precipitation Measurement

GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center

IPWG International Precipitation Working Group

JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

JCSDA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation

JMA Japan Meteorological Agency

JSC Joint Scientific Committee

JTWC Joint Typhoon Warning Center

km kilometer

lidar light detection and ranging

LIS Lightning Imaging Sensor (on TRMM)

MADRAS Microwave Analysis & Detection of Rain & Atmosphere Structure

Meteosat Meteorological Satellite

MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer

MSG Meteosat Second Generation

MWRI Microwave Radiation Imager

NAE National Academy of Engineering

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NCEP National Centers of Environmental Prediction

NESDIS National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service