NUMBER 145

DATE: 08/03/95

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During June, NOA, ESA, and JMA processed greater than 98% of A data into B1/B2 data. CSU collected 55% of GOES-7 data and 83% of GOES-8 data.

Normal operations for June were reported by NOA, ESA and JMA.

JMA reported the switch-over of operations from GMS-4 to GMS-5 as of 0600 UTC on 13 June 95. GMS-5 has extra infrared channels, including a water vapor channel like METEOSAT.

CSU reported failure of the two antennas being used to collect GOES-7 data from 0900 UTC on 10 June 95 to 1800 UTC on 20 June 95. In addition the computer collecting GOES-7 data has begun failing on a daily basis, causing loss of half of the images per day. Thus, only 45% of the GOES-7 data were collected in June; however, another 10% of the data were obtained from NASA Ames. GOES-8 data collection was more routine, although internal network problems caused data losses for three days. CSU also reported failure of its 9-track tape drive which has prevented data shipments to the GPC and ICA. Several alternatives are being investigated.

CSU provided a summary of data collected from GOES-7 and GOES-8 during this year, as follows: for GOES-7 -- 87% (January), 94% (February), 77% (March), 75% (April), 79% (May), 55% (June); and for GOES-8 -- 61% (January), 9% (February), 60% (March), 60% (April), 79% (May), 83% (June). Some effort will be required to try to restore the missed data from NOAA's archives.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for June 95 from GMS-5, METEOSAT-5 and NOAA-14.

Global Processing Center (GPC):

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

Production of NOAA-11 B3 data is complete through September 94.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data have been produced through December 94.

Production of NOAA-14 (preliminary) B3 is current through June 95. Production of final B3 will requires normalizing the calibration to NOAA-11 and then to the standard, NOAA-9.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through November 94. Because of the difficulties of collecting GOES-7 data caused by large orbital motions, B2 datasets for December 94 onwards will have to be produced by merging data from several sources: B2 data have been received from AES and CSU and will have to be obtained from NOAA archives. Final B3 data have been produced through December 93.

Sample GOES-8 B2 data has been received, but formatting software has not been written yet. Further deliveries are held up by problems with tape drives at CSU.

Production of METEOSAT-3 (preliminary) B3 data is complete 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 produced through December 92.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data for METEOSAT-4 have been produced through December 93.

Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through May 95. The last few images collected in early June 95 will be processed as soon as the B2 data are received. Final B3 data have been produced through December 93.

The first GMS-5 B2 data for June 95 have not been received yet.

Production of all INSAT-1 (preliminary) B3 data has been completed.

TOVS correlative data processing is current. The revised version of the whole TOVS dataset will be delivered once documentation has been completed.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset will resume next week. The final comparison of the old and new sea ice datasets shows that they are not nearly as similar as first impression suggested. The main differences are that the NSIDC microwave product indicates much more ice along coastlines and in smaller lakes than the Navy product, some but not all of which is clearly spurious as it appears in summer, and that the ice fraction reported in the microwave product is substantially smaller than reported by the Navy, especially in summer. If near-coastal zones are excluded and the differences in ice fraction are ignored, then the area covered by sea ice reported in the two datasets is the same to within 3%. Since the cloud detection procedure only uses this dataset to indicate the POSSIBLE presence of sea ice so that certain precautions can be implemented, the differences will not cause any change in the cloud products. However, the precise area coverage statistics will change with the introduction of the NSIDC dataset in place of the Navy/NOAA product. DX/D1/D2 data production continues; data for June, July, August and September 90 have been completed. Deliveries of DX/D1/D2 will begin once the documentation is completed.

The ISCCP World Wide Web Home Page was made public on 23 May 95 and can be accessed at URL

http://haboob.giss.nasa.gov

A complete version of the 1992 calibration document is now available via the Home Page. Within the next few weeks, a complete version of the C1/C2 data document and the 1995 revised calibration document and tables will be made available.

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-7, GOES-8, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good. GOES-8 was declared operational on 9 June 95. GMS-5 replaced GMS-4 on 13 June 95. There are no reports of problems with GOES-9. Several reports indicate that ELEKTRO is not operational: it has been reported that there are difficulties maintaining proper attitude, that the visible imaging channel is not operative, and that the calibration of the infrared imaging channel is not stable.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 93

Stage CD: July 83 - December 91

Stage C1: July 83 - June 91

Stage C2: July 83 - June 91

Delivery backlog for B3 data = 18 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 126 months have been archived, except for METEOSAT-3 replacing GOES-EAST.

Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 42 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1 data for 96 months have been archived.