NUMBER 150

DATE: 01/11/96

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During November, NOA, ESA, CSU and JMA processed greater than 89% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for November were reported by JMA.

ESA handed over processing of METEOSAT data to EUMETSAT on 15 November 1995. ESA delivered the B1/B2 datasets covering the first half of November. EUMETSAT began data collection with very little loss (maybe one or two images) and is now preparing the B1/B2 datasets covering the second half of November for delivery.

Although satellite operations and data collection were not affected, the NOAA SPC and ICA were affected by the two US Government shutdowns, one for four weekdays in November and one for 13 weekdays in December-January. The shutdown was extended for three days by a record-breaking blizzard on the east coast of the US.

CSU terminated tracking of GOES-7 on 22 November in order to begin tracking GOES-9 (its replacement); however, CSU will continue to acquire GOES-7 data from NASA Ames until GOES-9 becomes operational in the West position (probably on or about 11 January 96). High winds damaged the CSU antenna for GOES-8 on 18 November, causing loss of about 10% of the data. CSU reported discovering a pixel-alignment error in GOES-8 data since July 95; they are working to produce corrected B1 and B2 datasets.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for November 95 from GOES-7 and GOES-8; but other data were not received because of the disruption of mail service in December 95 due to strikes. Mail service had not been fully restored at the time of their report. BC data for May 95 for GMS-5 were shipped to the GPC; however, an error was discovered in the IR normalizations for February - May 95, so these BC data are being re-done. Corrected BC for May 95 were shipped to the GPC.

Global Processing Center (GPC):

Due to another U.S. Government shutdown for 22 days in December and early January, less data processing occurred at the GPC than usual.

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

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. Production of final B3 will require normalizing the calibration to the standard, NOAA-9.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through November 94. Merger of several sources of data beyond November will be required. Final B3 data have been produced through August 94.

GOES-8 B2 data are now being received routinely, but 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 produced through August 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is current. Final B3 data B3 data have been produced through August 94.

Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through May 95. GMS-5 B2 data deliveries are current, but formatting software has not been written yet. Final B3 data have been produced through August 94.

Final INSAT-1 B3 has been produced for the period April 88 through March 89.

TOVS correlative data processing is current. The revised version of the whole TOVS dataset (July 83 - December 94) will be delivered next month.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset has been completed through 93. The revised version of the whole ice/snow dataset (July 83 - December 94) will be delivered next month.

DX/D1/D2 data production continues: data for November and December 92 have been completed. At the request of the BALTEX project, Stage D data for May and June 93 are being processed ahead of schedule; May 93 processing has been completed. At the request of the Surface Radiation Budget project, Stage D data for January - December 86 and January 87 will be processed ahead of schedule; April 86 processing has been completed. The DX/D1/D2 data will be released next week by which time data for three years, 1990, 1991, 1992, will be available.

Documentation of the Stage D datasets and the revised TOVS and ice/snow correlative datasets has been completed and will be posted to the ISCCP Home Page next week. 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.

The health of GMS-5, METEOSAT-5, GOES-7, GOES-8, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good. GOES-9 is scheduled to become operational in January 96.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 94 (11 years)

Stage CD: July 83 - December 91 (8.5 years)

Stage C1: July 83 - June 91 (8 years)

Stage C2: July 83 - June 91 (8 years)

Stage D1: January 90 - April 92 (2.3 years)

Stage D2: January 90 - April 92 (2.3 years)

Delivery backlog for B3 data = 11 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 37 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 28 months have been archived.