NUMBER 155

DATE: 06/07/96

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During April, NOA, CSU, AES and JMA processed greater than 79% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for April were reported by NOA, CSU and JMA. No report was received from EUM.

CSU reported continued loss of the local midnight image (0900 UTC) for GOES-9 through 12 April.

EUM reported that they are reprocessing recent datasets to make changes in the tape file structure requested by the GPC.

AES reported some problems with the switch-over to their final operational configuration that caused loss of some data.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for April 96 from GMS-5, GOES-9 and NOAA-14. BC for March through October 95 for GOES-8 (there was no AC data for July 95) were shipped to the GPC.

Global Processing Center (GPC):

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

Production of NOAA-14 (preliminary) B3 is current. Production of final B3 will require normalizing the calibration to the standard, NOAA-9.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data have been produced through December 94.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through June 95. Final B3 data have been produced through August 94.

GOES-8 B2 data are now being received routinely, but the formatting software has not been written yet.

GOES-9 B2 data are now being received routinely, but the formatting software has not been written yet.

Production of METEOSAT-3 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through January 95. The special CD-ROM datasets sent by ESA for February through April 95 have not been processed yet. Final B3 data have been produced through August 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data have been produced through August 94.

GMS-5 B2 data deliveries are current, but formatting software has not been written yet. Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through May 95. Final B3 data have been produced through August 94.

Final INSAT-1 B3 has been produced for the period April 88 through March 89.

TOVS correlative data processing has been completed through 95. An error has been discovered in the newly produced TOVS dataset that also affects the cloud products. A software error causes very high monthly mean values of water vapor in the upper troposphere (approximately from 300 - 600 mb) that, in turn, cause high cloud and surface temperatures. The effect is largest for surface temperatures. This error affects 8 months of data: March through October 92. These TOVS data have already been reprocessed to correct the error and will be shipped to the ICA next week.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through 94.

DX/D1/D2 processing for February through May 86 and for January 87 has been completed. The TOVS error will necessitate re-processing some of the DX/D1/D2 data for 92; so far April, May, August and October have been determined to need re-processing.

Additions to the ISCCP Web page: (1) A (downloadable) copy of the third of the series of articles about the project that were published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. (2) Explicit lists of the variables contained in each of the D-series datasets for convenient reference. The ISCCP World Wide Web Home Page can be accessed at URL

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-5, METEOSAT-5, GOES-8, GOES-9, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 94 (11.0 years)

Stage CD: July 83 - December 94 (11.5 years)

Stage C1: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage C2: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage D1: January 86 - December 86, January 90 - December 92 ( 4.0 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - December 86, January 90 - December 92 ( 4.0 years)

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 16 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 34 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 48 months have been archived.