| IGBP | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme |
| IMBER | Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research |
| IOC | Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission |
| IOOS | Integrated Ocean Observing System |
| IPCC | Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |
| IWG | Interagency Working Group |
| JSOST | Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology |
| LTER | Long-term Ecological Research |
| MBARI | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute |
| MOU | Memoranda of Understanding |
| MSY | Maximum Sustainable Yield |
| NASA | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| NOAA | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| NPV | Net Present Value |
| NRC | National Research Council |
| NSF | National Science Foundation |
| OCB | Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry [Program] |
| Ocean SITES | Ocean Sustained Interdisciplinary Time-Series Environment observation System |
| ODP | Ocean Drilling Program |
| OOI | Ocean Observatories Initiative |
| OSB | Ocean Studies Board |
| PETM | Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum |
| PIC | Particulate Inorganic Carbon |
| PICES | North Pacific Marine Science Organization |
| POC | Particulate Organic Carbon |
| RISA | NOAA Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments |
| SARP | NOAA Sectoral Applications Research Program |
| SCOR | Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research |
| SOLAS | Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study |
| SRES | Special Report on Emissions Scenarios |
| SSS | Sea Surface Salinity |
| TOGA | Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere |