NUMBER 160

DATE: 11/07/96

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During September, NOA, JMA, AES and CSU processed greater than 92% of A data into B1/B2 data. AES also reported processing more than 94% of A data into B1/B2 data for July and August 96.

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

CSU reported that NOAA was testing the GOES-9 imager scan motor from 20 August through 2 September causing cancellation of images at 0600, 0900 and 1200 UTC each day for two weeks.

AES reported loss of 11 images because of a computer system crash and another required shutdown.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for June and July 96 from GOES-8 and for September 96 from GMS-5, GOES-9 and NOAA-14. BC data for April 96 for METEOSAT-5 and GOES-9 and for May and June 96 for GOES-8, GOES-9, METEOSAT-5 and GMS-5 were shipped to the GPC. Test normalization of the water vapor channels METEOSAT-5 and GOES-9 was conducted for July 96. Although the available range of target radiances is limited compared with the other IR channels, the results appear better than obtained in the first attempt. Investigation continues.

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 95.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

GOES-8 B2 data through June 96; previous deliveries did not include the calibration block, so these data are being re-processed (and the format changed) to recover this information. The formatting software has not been written yet.

GOES-9 B2 data have not been delivered in final form; discussions are still underway to determine a format. 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, but only data through April 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 July 96.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through 94. The old source of sea ice data (actually now directly the Navy) has begun producing data again. Also, another sea ice dataset has been released. All of these datasets are being obtained to investigate which should be used in ISCCP production.

DX/D1/D2 processing continues to be slowed by work to upgrade the computer operating system. DX/D1/D2 for June 93 has been processed. A significant difficulty with the visible radiance calibration for METEOSAT-3 (operating as GOES-EAST) has been discovered in March 93 (and possibly April 93). Production has been delayed while this problem is being investigated.

Although there were no additions to the ISCCP Web page in August, it was significantly re-structured because of the institution of a security "firewall" system at the GPC. The datasets and accessing system for the Web page had to be altered. This month's additions are: (1) addition of the second two months of the TOGA-COARE browse dataset, (2) addition of separate pages giving the spectral response functions for all channels on all satellites (same information as in the B3 data document, but more convenient to download), and (3) a revised ISCCP logo. The whole Web page is being re-designed to account for the significant increase in the amount of material provided. The ISCCP World Wide Web Home Page can be accessed at URL

http://isccp.giss.nasa.gov

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.