| EOS comprehensive list of acronyms
|
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|
| AMSR | Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer. New, soil moisture @ 1 km resolution. |
| ASTER | Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (10-30 m resolution). |
| AVHRR | Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. 8 km, global NDVI coverage (free) |
| CIESIN | Center for International Earth Science Information, Columbia University |
| DEM | Digital elevation model (digital topographic map) |
| EROS | Earth Resources Observation System. The EROS data center, operated by USGS, is in Sioux Falls, SD |
| ESA | European Space Agency |
| ETM+ | Enhanced Thematic Mapper sensor on Landsat 7 satellite |
| FGDC | US Federal Geographic Data Committee |
| GEMS | Global Environmental Monitoring System of the UN |
| IGBP | International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme |
| IHDP | International Human Dimensions Programme |
| IKONOS | Space Imaging's satellite; 1 m panchromatic and 4 m multispectral images |
| LANDSAT | NASA satellite series first launched in 1972 |
| LCCS | Land Cover Classification System |
| LIDAR | Light detection and ranging. Very high-resolution (<< 1 m) active laser system. |
| LUCC | Land Use and land Cover Change Project (IGBP and IHDP) |
| MODIS | Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer of NASA. Depending on the product, resolution from 250 m to 8 km. Mostly free. |
| MRLC | Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics consortium. Collaborative effort to develop and test a national land-cover data set with environmental characteristics. Cover based on Landsat-TM imagery. Currently working on 2001 cover. |
| MSS | Multispectral Sensor - on early LandSat satellites |
| NASA | US National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| NDVI | Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (vegetation greenness) |
| NIMA | National Imagery and Mapping Agency (US) |
| NLCD | National Land Cover Database. Product from MRLC. |
| NOAA | US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| NSF | US National Science Foundation |
| QuickBird | Digital Globe's imagery; 0.6 m pan; 2.4. multispectral. |
| RADAR | Radiation Detection and Ranging |
| SAR | Synthetic Aperture Radar. |
| SPOT | Systeme pour l'Observation de la Terre |
| SRTM | Shuttle Radar Topography Mission |
| TM | Thematic Mapper instrument on Landsat satellites (see Landsat) |
| UN FAO | United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization |
| UNEP WCMC | World Conservation Monitoring Centre |
| USGS-BRD | US Geological Survey Biological Resources Division |
