NUMBER 156

DATE: 07/03/96

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During May, NOA, CSU, and JMA processed greater than 99% of A data into B1/B2 data. A late report from JMA indicated processing of more than 97% of A data into B1/B2 data for March 96.

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

After another try, a revised format EUM B2 data tape has been successfully processed at the GPC. The problems arose from small incompatibilities between workstation-based operating systems and the "old" mainframe systems.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for March and April 96 from METEOSAT-5 and for May 96 from GMS-5, GOES-9 and NOAA-14. BC for November and December 95 for GOES-8 and METEOSAT-5 and for July through December 95 for GMS-5 were shipped to the GPC. BC data are now complete through 95.

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 delivered through December 94.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through December 95, except for September and October -- this processing involves merging B2 data from several sources during the last half of 95. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 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 delivered through June 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is current. The problems with the EUM B2 tape format have now been resolved, so that the six month delivery backlog can be eliminated. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 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 delivered through June 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. The TOVS processing error in 92 has been corrected and replacement data sent to the ICA. The daily values were not affected for all months: only April, May, August and October 92 had any errors; however, the monthly mean files were in error for March through October 92.

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

DX/D1/D2 processing has been significantly slowed by work to upgrade the computer operating system to handle four-times higher volume data cartridges in the robot silo system. April and May 92 DX/D1 have been re-processed to correct the TOVS error; only August and October 92 need to be re-processed. Special datasets for the BASE project and for SCARAB were also produced.

Additions to the ISCCP Web page: (1) A report of the international ISCCP Workshop held at the GPC in April 96. (2) A comprehensive bibliography of published research papers based on ISCCP datasets or related to the ISCCP analysis method. (3) An updated version of the semi-annual Project Status report. (4) Special browse/download data samples from DX/D1 for FIRE Cirrus I and II experiments. 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 = 17 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 35 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 48 months have been archived.