diff --git a/settings/SETTINGS_aero_config b/settings/SETTINGS_aer_config
similarity index 98%
rename from settings/SETTINGS_aero_config
rename to settings/SETTINGS_aer_config
index 511cd860471c5168dc89c88a6ed2a7fb3412e384..f0112a00d0a97647631658ff282e36799163a7d0 100644
--- a/settings/SETTINGS_aero_config
+++ b/settings/SETTINGS_aer_config
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ satellite:   .false.
 # Use ground-based observations (true or false)
 ground:      .true.
 
-# Species ("co2" or "ghg" or "aero")
-spec:        aero
+# Species ("co2" or "ghg" or "aer")
+spec:        aer
 
 # Coefficient to convert from grid units of ppt to ppb
 coeff:       1.0
diff --git a/settings/SETTINGS_aero_files b/settings/SETTINGS_aer_files
similarity index 94%
rename from settings/SETTINGS_aero_files
rename to settings/SETTINGS_aer_files
index 3274512fad22f1e803bebe987bdf139709025302..9b3ff4be00a25e19381ca6286c21c53d03589159 100644
--- a/settings/SETTINGS_aero_files
+++ b/settings/SETTINGS_aer_files
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ file_log:     flexinvert.log
 
 # Regions mask file:
 # needs to correspond to flexpart domain and resolution (if using nested output needs to correspond to nest)
-file_regions: /mypath/output/regions_aero.nc
+file_regions: /mypath/output/regions_aer.nc
 varname_regs: regions
 lonname_regs: longitude
 latname_regs: latitude
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ latname_lsm:  lat
 # Global prior flux file: flux kg/m2/h
 # needs to correspond to flexpart domain and resolution
 # generic name with year YYYY
-filename_flx: AERO_TOTAL_YYYY_10x10.nc
+filename_flx: AER_TOTAL_YYYY_10x10.nc
 varname_flx:  emis
 lonname_flx:  longitude
 latname_flx:  latitude
@@ -84,6 +84,6 @@ latnest_flx:
 timenest_flx:
 
 # Receptor list file:
-file_recept:   /mypath/input/reclist_aero.txt
+file_recept:   /mypath/input/reclist_aer.txt
 
 
diff --git a/source/calc_conc.f90 b/source/calc_conc.f90
index 98f266cdb7f55f74de084b9e772b46b7a20c733f..b6d392a49000c9228d95abed901131d930700532 100644
--- a/source/calc_conc.f90
+++ b/source/calc_conc.f90
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ subroutine calc_conc(config, fluxes, obs, ngrid, gtime, hnest, hbkg, iobs, ix1,
     flxbg = fluxes%flxnee(:,:,ind) + &
                     fluxes%flxff(:,:,ind) + &
                     fluxes%flxocn(:,:,ind) 
-  else if (( trim(config%spec).eq.'ghg' ) .or. ( trim(config%spec).eq.'aero' )) then
+  else if (( trim(config%spec).eq.'ghg' ) .or. ( trim(config%spec).eq.'aer' )) then
     ! GHG or aerosol species
     flxbg = fluxes%flx(:,:,ind)
   endif
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ subroutine calc_conc(config, fluxes, obs, ngrid, gtime, hnest, hbkg, iobs, ix1,
     else
       obs%err(iobs) = sqrt(obs%measerr(iobs)**2 + (sum(obs%cini(iobs,:))*config%cinierr)**2 + bkgerr)
     endif
-  else if ( trim(config%spec).eq.'aero' ) then
+  else if ( trim(config%spec).eq.'aer' ) then
     ! aerosols
     obs%err(iobs) = sqrt(obs%measerr(iobs)**2 +  bkgerr)
   endif
diff --git a/source/main.f90 b/source/main.f90
index f5ee070170d50e30c51136d0f407e3ec12dffaee..1abf8c28903571c0234bc01f0e754dcf93e4f367 100644
--- a/source/main.f90
+++ b/source/main.f90
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ program main
     call init_co2(files, config, fluxes, obs, states, covar)
   else if ( config%spec.eq.'ghg' ) then
     call init_ghg(files, config, fluxes, obs, states, covar)
-  else if ( config%spec.eq.'aero' ) then
+  else if ( config%spec.eq.'aer' ) then
     call init_aero(files, config, fluxes, obs, states, covar)
   else
-    write(logid,*) 'ERROR: spec must be one of co2, ghg, aero'
+    write(logid,*) 'ERROR: spec must be one of co2, ghg, aer'
     stop
   endif
 
diff --git a/source/mod_settings.f90 b/source/mod_settings.f90
index 232091569d24d0ef81ceaac9f90e0c7a9e9a5ee3..331460c59854bb2820fb45b804ced7b1f043338c 100644
--- a/source/mod_settings.f90
+++ b/source/mod_settings.f90
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ module mod_settings
     integer                     :: datei           ! start date (yyyymmdd)
     integer                     :: datef           ! end date (yyyymmdd)
     logical                     :: average_fp      ! average footprints to match observation (true or false)
-    character(len=3)            :: spec            ! species ('co2' or 'ghg' or 'aero')
+    character(len=3)            :: spec            ! species ('co2' or 'ghg' or 'aer')
     character(len=max_name_len) :: method          ! inversion method ('analytic' or 'congrad' or 'm1qn3')
     logical                     :: lognormal       ! use log-normal distribution in state space
     real                        :: trunc           ! truncation factor for eigenvalues of B
diff --git a/source/simulate.f90 b/source/simulate.f90
index 23bebb896924e5572f1fd47bc6cf8c9f14c46a56..6c8b2532fce18eeb8789be161cfa636097dbf088 100644
--- a/source/simulate.f90
+++ b/source/simulate.f90
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ subroutine simulate(iter, files, config, fluxes, obs, states, grad_o, cost_o)
         ftime(n) = juldate(int(dates(n)/1d6),int(dates(n)-floor(dates(n)/1d6)*1d6)) 
       end do
       factor(:,:,:) = 1. 
-      if ( config%spec.ne.'aero' ) then
+      if ( config%spec.ne.'aer' ) then
          filefactor = trim(path_flexrec)//'factor_drygrid'
          inquire ( file=trim(filefactor),exist=lexist )
          if ( lexist ) then
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ subroutine simulate(iter, files, config, fluxes, obs, states, grad_o, cost_o)
     end do
     ! convert s.m3/kg to s.m2/kg
     grid = grid/outheight(1)
-    if ( config%spec.eq.'aero' ) then
+    if ( config%spec.eq.'aer' ) then
        ! convert to match concentration units 
        grid = grid*config%coeff
     else
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ subroutine simulate(iter, files, config, fluxes, obs, states, grad_o, cost_o)
         if ( allocated(factor_nest) ) deallocate(factor_nest)
         allocate ( factor_nest(nnxgrid,nnygrid,nread) )
         factor(:,:,:) = 1.
-        if ( config%spec.ne.'aero' ) then
+        if ( config%spec.ne.'aer' ) then
            filefactor = trim(path_flexrec)//'factor_drygrid_nest'
            inquire ( file=trim(filefactor),exist=lexist )
            if ( lexist ) then
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ subroutine simulate(iter, files, config, fluxes, obs, states, grad_o, cost_o)
       ! convert s.m3/kg to s.m2/kg
       gridnest = gridnest/outheight(1)
       ! convert from equivalent ppt to observation units (e.g. ppmv) 
-      if ( config%spec.eq.'aero' ) then
+      if ( config%spec.eq.'aer' ) then
         gridnest = gridnest*config%coeff
       else
         gridnest = gridnest*config%coeff*mmair/config%molarmass
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ subroutine simulate(iter, files, config, fluxes, obs, states, grad_o, cost_o)
     endif
 
     ! check if background missing (not for aerosols)
-    if ( config%spec.ne.'aero'.and.sum(obs%cini(i,:)).eq.0. ) then
+    if ( config%spec.ne.'aer'.and.sum(obs%cini(i,:)).eq.0. ) then
       write(logid,*) 'ERROR: background zero for observation ',i
       stop
     endif