NUMBER 157

DATE: 08/05/96

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During June, NOA, AES, CSU, and JMA processed greater than 95% of A data into B1/B2 data.

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

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for June 96 from NOAA-14, GOES-9 and GMS-5. BC data are 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 complete. 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 have not been delivered in final form, but are in preparation. 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. Data for November 95 through February 96 have been received. 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.

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. August and October 92 DX/D1 have been re-processed to correct the TOVS error and all corrected datasets sent to the ICA; the D2 dataset for 92 has also been corrected. Production of DX/D1/D2 data for 93 has commenced.

Additions to the ISCCP Web page: Special browse/download data samples from DX/D1 for the FIRE Marine Stratus, ASTEX, and TOGA-COARE experiments and for three GEWEX Cloud System Study Working Group 3 cases, including for the BASE experiment. 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. A new catalog of ISCCP data products was issued in June.

The health of GMS-5, METEOSAT-5, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good. Both new GOES satellites are experiencing problems with the scan motors for the imager and sounder systems. The primary sounder scan motor on GOES-8 failed in October 94; the secondary motor has been used since. The primary imager scan motor on GOES-9 failed in March 96; the secondary motor has been used since. Investigation of these incidents revealed a design flaw that causes the motor to fail when exposed to large temperature variations. Procedures to correct problems with the METEOSAT-6 imager are being tested and may allow this satellite to become operational either later this year or early next year. Operation of two METEOSAT satellites and the position of the second one is under discussion.

OTHER

The fourth session of the Working Group on Data Management for WCRP Radiation Projects was held from 29 - 31 July in Dublin. Key issues discussed and actions taken include: (1) converting all inter-center communications to e-mail form, (2) changing data exchange media to more modern and convenient types on a bilateral basis rather than as a project-wide standard (in some cases exchanges on physical media are being replaced by ftp transfers), (3) discarding old (pre-July 1991) copies of AC and B2 data. Reported satellite launch plans are: China's FY-2 in early 97, NOAA-K delayed at least until March 97, GOES-10 in March 97 (possibly operated at 100W position at first), and METEOSAT-7 (similar to METEOSAT-6) in July 97.

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 = 18 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 36 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 48 months have been archived.