Glossary and Acronyms

Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme (MMOP) related glossary and acronyms are listed below. Other WMO-related acronyms can be found at UNTERM


Updated on 27 March 2024


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AARI Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
AG-WWMIWS-SubC Advisory Group on Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service Sub-Committee
AIS Automatic Identification System
AOPC Atmospheric Observation Panel for Climate
AOR-E Atlantic Ocean Region East
AOR-W Atlantic Ocean Region West
Arctic Council  
Argo Argo profiling float Pilot Project
ASCAT Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit
ASPeCt Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate
ASSIST Arctic Shipborne Sea Ice Standardization Tool
AVHRR Advanced Very-High Resolution Radiometer
BGC Biogeochemistry
BIM Baltic Icebreaking Management
BIMCO  
BMKG Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, Indonesia
BMT British Maritime Technology
BSH German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency
BSIS Baltic Sea Ice Services
BUFR Binary Universal form for the representation of meteorological data
CAP Common Alerting Protocol
CCP Climate Coordination Panel
CD Capacity Development
CDP Capacity Development Panel
CEOS Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
Cg Congress
CGMS Coordination Group for meteorological Satellites
CIFDP Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project
CIF-EWS Coastal Inundation Forecasting Early Warning System
CIFI Coastal Inundation Forecasting Initiative
CIS Canadian Ice Service
CLIA Cruise Lines International Association
CLiC Climate and Cryosphere
CLIVAR Climate and Ocean - Variability Predictability and Change
CMA-SAMOA Environmental Control Panel-Meteorological and Oceanographic Support System of the Port Authority (Spanish)
CMCC Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change
CMEMS European Union Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service Programme
CMM Commission for Marine Meteorology
COMSAR Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue
COP UN Climate Change Conference
COWCLiP Coordinated Ocean Wave Climate Project
CREWS Climate Risk & Early Warning Systems
CSB Crowdsourced Bathymetry
CWAM Coastal Wave Model
DBCP Data Buoy Cooperation Panel
DESA UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
DHI Danish Hydraulic Institute
DOALOS Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
DRR Disaster Risk Reduction
DRWG Document Review Working Group
DSC Digital Selective Calling
DSS Douglas Sea State
DWD Deutscher Wetterdienst, Germany
EC Executive Council
ECCC Environment and Climate Change Canada
ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information System
ECOSOC Economic and Social Council
ECV Essential Climate Variable
EGC Enhanced Group Call
EIS European Ice Services
ENC Electronic Navigational Charts
EOS Earth Observing System
EOV Essential Ocean Variable
EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
EPPR Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response
ET Expert Team
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ET-AC Expert Team on Audit and Certification/SC-IMT
ET-CCD Expert Team on Competency and Capacity Development/SC-MMO
ET-CER Expert Team on Coastal and Emergency Response/SC-MMO
ETDRR Expert Team on Disaster Risk Reduction/former JCOMM
ET-IM Expert Team on Information Management/SC-IMT
ETMEER Expert Team on Marine Environmental Emergency Response/former JCOMM
ET-MOR Expert Team on Met-Ocean Requirements/SC-MMO
ET-MS Expert Team on Maritime Safety/SC-MMO
ET-MSS Expert Team on Maritime Safety Services/former JCOMM
ETOOFS Expert Team on Operational Ocean Forecasting Systems/GOOS
ETSI Expert Team on Sea Ice/former JCOMM
ET-W2WPE Expert Team on WIS2 WMO Programmes Engagement/SC-IMT
EUMETNET Grouping of 31 European National Meteorological Services
EUMETSAT European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites
EW4All Early Warnings For All Initiative
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
FFGS Flash Flood Guidance Systems
filecloud WMO collaboration platform, previously elioscloud
FINAC Financial Advisory Committee
FMI Finnish Meteorological Institute
FOC Full Operational Capability
GAW Global Atmosphere Watch
GBON Global Basic Observing Network
GCOS Global Climate Observing Systems
GCW-AG Global Cryosphere Watch Advisory Group
GDAC Global Data Assembly Centre of JCOMM
GDPFS Global Data-processing and Forecasting System
GDSIDB Global Digital Sea Ice Data Bank
GEBCO The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans
GESAMP Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection
GFCS Global Framework for Climate Services
GIS Geographic Information System
GISIS Global Integrated Shipping Information System
GLOSS Global Ocean Observing System/GOOS
GMAS Global Multi-Hazard Alert System
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
GML Geography Markup Language
GOADE The Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment
GOOS Global Ocean Observing System
GOS Global Observing System
GO-SHIP Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic INvestigations Program
GRUAN GCOS Reference Upper-Air Network
GT Gross Tonnage
GTS Global Telecommunication System
GUAN GCOS Upper-Air Network
GWAM Global Wave Model
HCP Hydrological Coordination Panel
HF NBDP High-Frequency Narrow-Band Direct-Printing
HFR High-Frequency Radar
HMEI Hydro-Meteorological Equipment Industry
HO Hydrographic Office
IACS International Association of Classification Societies
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
IAIN International Association of Institutes of Navigation
IALA International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities
IAPH International Association of Ports and Harbors
IASC International Arctic Scientific Committee
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
ICOADS International Comprehensive Ocean?Atmosphere Data Set
ICS International Chamber of Shipping
IFSMA International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations
IHMA International Harbour Masters Association
IHO International Hydrographic Organization
IICWG International Ice Charting Working Group
IIP International Ice Patrol
IMAREST Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology
IMCA International Marine Contractors Association
IMO International Maritime Organization
IMPA International Maritime Pilots Association
IMSO International Mobile Satellite Organization
IndOOS Indian Ocean Observing System
INFCOM Commission for Observation, Infrastructure and Information Systems
INMARSAT  
Intercargo International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners
Interferry a shipping association representing the ferry industry worldwide
International Enhanced Group Call service* the coordinated broadcast
and automatic reception of Maritime Safety Information and Search and
Rescue related information via Enhanced Group Call, using the English
language.
International NAVTEX service* the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception on 518 kHz of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy using the English language
International SafetyNET service the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information via the Inmarsat Enhanced Group Call(EGC) system, using the English language, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended
IOC-UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
IODE International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange programme
IOGP International Oil and Gas Producers
IOM International Organization for Migration
IOR Indian Ocean Region
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IPWG Informal Prepatory Working Group
IPY International Polar Year
Issuing Service a National Meteorological Service which has accepted responsibility for ensuring that meteorological warnings and forecasts for shipping are disseminated through the Inmarsat SafetyNET service to the METAREA for which the Service has accepted responsibility under the broadcast requirements of the GMDSS
ITC International Trade Centre
ITLOS International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
ITU  
IUMI International Union of Marine Insurance
IWG-SODIS Inter-sessional working group to propose a strategy on ocean data and information stewardship for the UN Ocean Decade
JCB Joint WMO-IOC Collaborative Board
JCOMM Joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology
JET-EOSDE Joint Expert Team on Earth Observing System Design and Evolution
KHOA Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency
KMA Korea Meteorological Administration
KPI Kep Performance Indicators
KRISO Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering
LDC Least Developed Countries
LES Inmarsat Land Earth Stations
LN Light Nilas
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
LRIT Long-range identification and tracking
MAR Marine Services Division WMO
MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
MASS Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships
MCP Maritime Connectivity Platform
MEER Marine Environmental Emergency Response
MEPC Marine Environment Protection Committee
MER Marine Emergency Response
METAREA* a geographical sea area* established for the purpose of coordinating the broadcast of marine meteorological information. (*which may include inland seas, lakes and waterways navigable by seagoing ships)
METAREA Coordinator* the individual with the authority to coordinate marine meteorological information broadcasts by one or more National Meteorological and Hydrological Services acting as Preparation or Issuing
Services within the METAREA.
MetOcean Meteorology and (physical) Oceanography
MG Management Group
MHEWS Multi-Hazard Early Warning System
MMOP WMO Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme
MMS Marine Meteorological Services
MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
MS Member States
MSC Maritime Safety Committee/IMO
MSI Maritime Safety Information
MSI service the internationally and nationally co-ordinated network of broadcasts containing information which is necessary for safe navigation
MSIP Maritime Safety Information Provider
MY Multi-year ice
NAIS North American Ice Service
NAVAREA* a geographical sea area** established for the purpose of coordinating the broadcast of navigational warnings. The term NAVAREA followed by a roman numeral may be used to identify a particular sea area. The delimitation of such areas is not related to and should not prejudice the delimitation of any boundaries between States.
NAVAREA Coordinator* the authority charged with operating and managing one or more NAVTEX stations broadcasting Maritime Safety Information as part of the International NAVTEX service.
NAVAREA warning a navigational warning or in-force bulletin promulgated as part of a numbered series by a NAVAREA Coordinator
NAVDAT a navigational warning or in-force bulletin promulgated as part of a numbered series by a NAVAREA coordinator.
NAVTEX* NAVigational TEleX: the system for the broadcast and automatic reception of maritime safety information by means of narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy
NAVTEX Coordinator* the authority charged with operating and managing one or more NAVTEX stations broadcasting maritime safety information as part of the International NAVTEX service.
NAVTEX coverage area* an area defined by an arc of a circle having a radius from the transmitter calculated according to the method and criteria given in resolution A.801(19), as amended.
NAVTEX service area a unique and precisely defined sea area, wholly contained within the NAVTEX coverage area, for which maritime safety information is provided from a particular NAVTEX transmitter. It is normally defined by a line that takes full account of local propagation conditions and the character and volume of information and maritime traffic patterns in the region, as given in resolution A.801(19), as amended.
NBDP HF Narrow-Band Direct Printing
NCSR Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue
NI The Nautical Institute
NL Nilas
NMHS National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
NMSFP National Marine Services Focal Point
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/USA
O2R Operation to Research
OBPS Ocean Best Practices System
OceanOPS The WMO-IOC Joint Centre for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology in situ Observations Programmes Support, formerly named JCOMMOPS
OCIMF Oil Companies International Marine Forum
ODIS Ocean Data and Information System
ODTP-SC Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme Scientific Committee
OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
OIH Ocean Infohub
OLCI Ocean and Land Colour Instrument
OLS Operational Linescan System
OOPC Ocean Observations Physics and Climate panel
OSCAR Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool
OP Operating Plan
OPRC International Convention on Oil Pollution, Preparedness, Response and Cooperation
OTGA Ocean Teacher Global Academy
PAC Policy Advisory Committee
PAME Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group
PHORS Panel of Experts on Polar and High Mountain Observations
PIANC the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure
PMO Port Meteorological Officers
PoC Point of Contact
POR Pacific Ocean Region
PPE Public-Private Engagement
PS Product Specification
PSIDS Pacific Small Island Developing States
PSU Practical Salinity Units
PT Project Team
QMS Quality Management System
R&D Research and Development
R2O Research to Operation
RA Regional Association
RB Research Board
RCC Rescue Coordination Centre
RMSS Recognized Mobile Satellite Service
RRR Rolling Review of Requirements
RSMC Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre
RTTY Radio Teletype
S-100 IHO S-100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model
S2S Sub-seasonal to Seasonal
S-411 S-411 Ice Information
S-412 S-412 weather Overlay
S-413 S-413 Weather and Wave Conditions
S-414 S-414 Weather and Wave Observations
S-41X S-411, S-412, S-413, S-414
S-57 IHO data format used for ECDIS
SafetyNET* International SafetyNET service means the coordinated broadcast and automatic reception of Maritime Safety Information via the Inmarsat Enhanced Group Call system, using the English language, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.
SafetyNET II International SafetyNET II service means Inmarsat's enhancement to the SafetyNET service, providing coordinated broadcasting and automated reception of Maritime Safety Information on Inmarsat approved terminals including Inmarsat C, Mini C and Fleet Safety, via an interactive web-based interface, using the English language, in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended.
SAON Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks
SAP Scientific Advisory Panel
SAR Search And Rescue
SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar
SAR information Distress alert relays and other urgent search and rescue information broadcast to ships
SARSAT Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking
SART Search And Rescue Transponder
SBSTA Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice
SC Standing Committee
SC-AGR Standing Committee on Services for Agriculture
SCAR Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
SC-CLI Standing Committee on Climate Services
SC-DRR Standing Committee on Services for Disaster Risk Reduction and Public Services/SERCOM
SC-ESMP Standing Committee on Data Processing for Applied Earth System Modelling and Prediction/INFCOM
SC-HYD Standing Committee on Hydrological Services/SERCOM
SC-IMT Standing Committee on Information Management and Technology/INFCOM
SC-MMO Standing Committee on Marine Meteorological and Oceanographic Services/SERCOM
SC-ON Standing Committee on Earth Observing Systems and Monitoring Networks/INFCOM
SDGs Sustainable Development Goals
Sea Area A1* an area within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one very high frequency (VHF) coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.
Sea Area A2* an area, excluding sea area A1, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one medium frequency (MF) coast station in which continuous DSC alerting is available, as may be defined by a Contracting Government.
Sea Area A3* an area, excluding sea areas A1 and A2, within the coverage of a recognized mobile satellite service supported by the ship earth station carried on board, in which continuous alerting is available.
Sea Area A4* Sea area A4 means an area outside of sea areas A1, A2 and A3.
SERCOM Commission for Weather, Climate, Water and Related Environmental Services and Applications
SES Ship Earth Station
SG Study Group
SG-CRYO Study Group on WMO Cryosphere Crosscutting Functions: Global Cryosphere Watch
SG-ENE Study Group on Integrated Energy Services
SG-HEA Study Group on Integrated Health Services
SG-OOIS Study Group on Ocean Observations and Infrastructure Systems
SG-URB Study Group on Integrated Urban Services
SIDS Small Island Developing States
SLSTR Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radioeter
SOFF Systematic Observations Financing Facility
SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
SOOP Ship Of Opportunity Programme/GOOS
SOT Ship Observation Team
SPC the Pacific Community
SSMIS Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder
STCW International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
STM Sea Traffic Management
TC Technical Commission
TCC Technical Coordination Committee
TEU Twenty-foot equivalent units
TOPC Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate
ToR/TOR Term of References
TOWS-WG Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems
TPOS Tropical Pacific Observing System
TT Task Team
TT-CSF Task Team on Climate Services and Fisheries
TWS Tsunami Warning Service
UN Environment UN Environment Programme
UNDRR UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
UNEP UN Environment Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNFCCC UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNH University of New Hamshere
UNOHRLLS United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
USCG United States Coast Guard
USNIC National Ice Center/USA
VDES VHF Data Exchange System
VHF Very high Frequency radio
VOS Voluntary Observing Ship
VTS vessel traffic service
WAM Wave Action Model
WCRP World Climate Research Programme
WEF World Economic Forum
WFP World Food Programme
WG Working Group
WGNE Working Group on Numerical Experimentation
WHO World Health Organization
WIGOS WMO Integrated Global Observing System
WIPPS WMO Integrated Processing and Prediction System
WIS WMO Information System
WMO World Meteorological Organization
WOC World Ocean Council
WODP World Ocean Database Programme
WSC World Shipping Council
WW3 WaveWatch 3
WWMIWS the IMO/WMO Worldwide Met-Ocean Information and Warning Service
WWNWS World-Wide Navigational Warning Service
WWNWS-SC World-Wide Navigational Warning Service Sub Committee/IHO
WWRP World Weather Research Programme
YOPP Year of Polar Prediction

* IMO definitions

**Which may include inland seas, lakes and waterways navigable by seagoing ships.