NUMBER 71

DATE: 07/07/89

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During May, NOA, ESA, JMA and AES collectively processed more than 97% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations were reported by NOA, ESA and JMA.

ESA reported that METEOSAT-4 will become operational on 19 June 1989.

AES reported loss of data on 17 May due to a software error that was corrected. Transmissions from GOES-7 were irregular on the 24th/25th, so substitute images were collected.

JMA reported discovering that the new IR calibration procedure was not correctly implemented, initially, resulting in the use of a constant IR calibration table from March through August 1987. New replacement tables will be sent to the GPC soon.

NOA reported suspension of NOAA-10 B2 deliveries until more funding is obtained. To date data for Dec 86 through Nov 87 and for Aug 88 through Apr 89 have been delivered.

Special Area Processing Center (SAPC):

No reports were received.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

SCC reported that about 90% of its software conversion (to a new computer system) has been completed (software for NOA, METEOSAT and GOES-WEST are done, that for GOES-EAST and GMS is partially done). Processing of BC data for METEOSAT and GOES-WEST has resumed. Correction of an error in the GOES-WEST VIS normalization program caused a change in all VIS normalization coefficients of about 3%; these corrected results have been sent to the GPC.

Global Processing Center (GPC):

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

Re-processing of all NOAA-9 B3 data to correct the small IR count error has been completed through June 87; these data are being delivered to the ICA as they are produced.

Production of GMS-3 B3 data has been halted after February 87 to await replacement of the IR calibration tables. The format changes have all been identified and software corrections implemented to continue processing.

Inspection of all B3 data to detect short-term calibration anomalies has been completed through 86; NOAA inspection is complete through 87. The apparent anomaly in the NOAA-9 IR calibration in October 86, detected by the SCC normalization analysis, could not be verified. Examination of the particular images used by the SCC suggests that some of the effect is due to short-term anomalies in the IR calibrations of METEOSAT and GMS; however, there is a hint of a change in the gain of the AVHRR, causing temperature changes of a 2-3 degrees at or below 200 K. The change is so small and the natural variation of the statistics used is so large, however, that it is difficult to conclude that any real change has occurred. Therefore, no change has been made in the NOAA IR calibration for Oct 86. Re-calibration and replacement of all B3 data tapes has now been completed through 84.

New snow and sea ice data sets have been received: the snow data cover 87, 88 and early 89; the sea ice data cover 87.

Re-processing of the C1 data to correct several small errors has been completed for March - April 84 and for April 85, completing the replacement of all C1 data. These data have all been delivered to the ICA. Minor revisions of the C1 data production software are now underway; full production is planned to re-start in August.

Some errors and problems with the "FIRE Standard Format" that we developed for delivery of the special CX data have been corrected and all FIRE data replaced: GOES-6 data for October - November 86 and NOAA-9 data for October - November 86 and June - July 87. Additional data sets for the Surface Radiation Budget Project for Oct 86 have also been produced and delivered to NASA Langley. Production of similar special data sets for NOAA-9 and METEOSAT-2 in September - October 87 for the ICE project has commenced.

ISCCP Central Archive (ICA):

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