NUMBER 141

DATE: 04/06/95

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During February, NOA, ESA, and JMA processed greater than 95% of A data into B1/B2 data. AES was only able to process 70% of GOES-7 A data into B1/B2 data, but CSU processed 94% of GOES-7 A data. No METEOSAT-3 data were processed by CSU; however ESA has been asked to supply METEOSAT-3 data for February. NOAA began processing NOAA14 A data into B1/B2 data in January, capturing 99% of the total data from the 18th day.

Normal operations for February were reported by NOA, ESA and JMA.

AES reported continued weak signal from GOES-7 causing the loss of about 30% of the data in February. Two days of data were lost because of an interruption of power.

CSU reported normal collection of GOES-7 data in February, but software problems precluded collection of GOES-8 data. GOES-8 data processing became operational in early March.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for December 94 from GOES-7 and GOES-8, for January 95 from GOES-7, and for February 95 from METEOSAT-3, METEOSAT-5, GOES-7, GMS-4 and NOAA-14. An error in the NOAA-12 normalization procedure was discovered, so all of the BC data for October 94 and after are being re-processed. Then, "normal" processing should resume with NOAA-14 data beginning with February 95.

Global Processing Center (GPC):

The GPC continued to receive B2 data, BC data and correlative data in a routine manner.

Production of NOAA-11 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been produced though June 93.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data have been produced through June 93.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data have been produced through June 93.

Production of METEOSAT-3 (preliminary) B3 data is current. The first five months of METEOSAT-3 data, acting in place of GOES-EAST, did not have complete calibration, requiring special processing to produce B3 data. This task is now underway. Once completed, all of the METEOSAT-3 B3 will be processed to add final calibration.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data for METEOSAT-4 have been produced through June 93.

Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data have been produced through June 93.

Production of all INSAT-1 (preliminary) B3 data has been completed.

Production of the TOVS and ice/snow correlative datasets is on hold. TOV processing stopped in March 94 until we are able to accommodate an unannounced data format change.

We did finally obtain complete sea ice datasets for 92 and 93; however, we discovered that the quality of all sea ice data rapidly declined beginning in late 91. The problems are spurious large areas of partial sea ice cover, where the cover value is identical over the whole area, and large areas of no sea ice cover reported in the central Arctic. In late 92 and much of 93, much of the Arctic is reported to be ice free. Up to 91, we had not observed any such difficulties, but now we are going back and more carefully checking the entire data record. The problems in late 91 ruined almost all of the new DX/D1/D2 data that had been processed, so these datasets will have to be re-done. The sea ice datasets for 91 has been repaired because the problems are isolated to only about 4-5 files, which we simply discarded. However, data for 92 and 93 appear to be useless. We are currently talking to the US NAVY to see whether they have a version of these data (they were about to issue a new data product covering through 93 when we told them about these problems) that we can use. We are also in contact with the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center and the Canadian Arctic Weather Center to see whether we can get sea ice datasets from these sources.

Sea ice problems caused the loss of DX/D1/D2 data for April, July, August, October, November and December 91; however, DX/D1/D2 data were produced for February and March 91. Completed months are now: February, March, May, June and September 91. All the remaining months in 91 will be re-processed next with the revised sea ice dataset. Plans to process data for 92 and later are on hold until we can obtain sea ice datasets of useful quality. In the meantime we will concentrate on re-processing older datasets. Deliveries of DX/D1/D2 will begin once the documentation is completed.

ISCCP Central Archive (ICA):

The ICA continued to receive B1 data from NOA, AES, ESA, CSU and JMA and B3 and C data from the GPC in a routine manner.

The health of GMS-4, METEOSAT-3, METEOSAT-5, GOES-7, GOES-8, and NOAA-12 remained good. GOES-8 is now fully operational. Full operations by NOAA-14 have been delayed by problems with the Microwave Sounding Unit; however, collection of AVHRR data for ISCCP is now routine. GMS-5 was successfully launched on 18 March and is expected to be operational in June 95. Launch of GOES-J to replace GOES-7 is now scheduled for 19 May 95.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 93

Stage CD: July 83 - December 91

Stage C1: July 83 - June 91

Stage C2: July 83 - June 91

Delivering sea ice correlative data for 92 and 93 to GPC.

Delivery backlog for B3 data = 14 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 120 months have been archived, except for METEOSAT-3 replacing GOES-EAST.

Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 38 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1 data for 96 months have been archived.