NUMBER 45

DATE: 05/05/87

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During March, ESA, JMA, and CSU collectively processed greater than 91% of A data into B1 and/or B2 data.

Normal operations were reported by ESA, CSU, JMA, and NOA. The March monthly report was received from NOA, but no March B2 processing matrix was received.

NOAA shipped NOAA-9 B2 data for December 1986 and January 1987, leaving a backlog of NOAA-9 data from February and March 1987. NOAA also shipped NOAA-8 B2 data for February 1984.

NOAA reported that the loss of Channel 2 on the NOAA-9 TOVS MSU at 0000 GMT on 8 March 1987 has caused the loss of all TOVS data from NOAA-9 since that time.

CSU reported the termination of the GOES-6 Mode-A transmission format by NESDIS at 1700 GMT on 25 March 1987. The new Mode-AAA transmission format began at 1815 GMT on the same day.

JMA reported that the replacement of its computer system at MSC was completed on 1 March 1987. Twenty B1 images were lost during the transition, however, no AC data were lost.

ESA reported ecllipse operations during March for which the 0000 GMT image is replaced by the 2300 GMT image.

AES reported that operational processing of GOES-7 B2 data began in April. Best success was attained in the last two weeks of April. These data are being prepared for shipment to the GPC early next month. The extra information in the new Mode-AAA transmission format will be accommodated by the end of May.

Special Area Processing Center (SAPC):

UWS reports completion of all the new GOES-6 AC data covering the period from January 1984 thru July 1984; these data were shipped to the SCC early in April.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

No report was received this month.

Global Processing Center (GPC):

The GPC continued to receive B1 and/or B2 data from JMA, ESA, CSU, and NOA and correlative data from NOAA/NESDIS in a routine manner.

The new production version of the GMS B3 code has been used to produce B3 data for July 1983 and January 1984. Some further refinements in the error checking routines will be performed before starting full production.

Merging of GOES-6 data from CSU and UWS for the period from July 1983 thru June 1984 has been completed. Quality inspection will begin later in May. These data can be sent to the ICA once the BC values are obtained.

The B2 data format from AES has been checked and accepted. Validation of the navigation accuracy is being conducted as part of the investigation of all GOES navigation accuracies.

The final step in the B3 quality inspection has been completed for the 19 months of METEOSAT-2 and NOAA-7 data in the archive. Less than 2% of these data were rejected. A list of all rejected images will be published.

All of the B3 data for July 1983 from NOAA-7, METEOSAT-2, GOES-5, GOES-6, and GMS-2 have been analyzed by the detection, radiative model, and statistical parts of the algorithm. The first C1 product has also been completed. Our evaluation of this first product shows that two kinds of changes are desirable: correction of a few logical errors that cause unnecessary losses of data and refinements of the cloud detection and radiation steps to provide better information about the results. We also plan to test all of the "error" codes, many of which were not included in this version, to determine the best set of quality indicators. Changes in specific parts of the analysis are also necessary to insure that the physical significance of each test is the same under all conditions. All of these issues will be discussed at the Working Group meeting in June.

Copies of the first two C1 tapes (two per month) for July 1983 are being made for wide distribution. In addition to copies for the ICA and all members of the Working Group, we will send copies to some participants in the algorithm intercomparison, in the pilot study on the use of ISCCP data, and to members of the JSC/CAS Working Group on Numerical Experimentaion who plan a climate model comparison with ISCCP and ERBE data sets. Responses and comments from all these users over the next few months will be used to produce a (slightly) revised version of the C1 format by July 1987.

ISCCP Central Archive (ICA):

The ICA continued to receive B1 data from JMA, CSU, ESA, and NOA in a routine manner.