| Acronym | Meaning |
| APLJHU | Applied Physics Laboratory John Hopkins University |
| HSMT | Helical Scan Magnetic Tape |
| PC | Continuous Pulsations |
| NDBC | National (or NOAA) Data Buoy Center |
| EEZSCAN | Exclusive Economic Zone Scan |
| ECAO | Environmental Criteria And Assessment Office |
| ERBS | Earth Radiation Budget Satellite |
| C&DH | Command And Data Handling |
| SMRP | Satellite And Mesometeorology Research Project |
| AOIPS | Atmospheric And Oceanographic Information Processing System |