NUMBER 164

DATE: 03/07/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During January, NOAA, JMA, and CSU processed greater than 97% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for January were reported by NOAA, JMA, and CSU. No reports or data were received from AES or EUM.

Although CSU obtained a new tape drive for providing B2 data to the GPC, it failed and had to be sent back to the manufacturer. CSU is supplying the AC data for GOES-8 while AES revises their format.

EUM data deliveries are current through September 96.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for November and December 96 from METEOSAT-5 and for January 97 from NOAA-14, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9. The GMS-5 AC data are now being delivered on CD ROM. AC data from HIRS on NOAA-14 for January 97 were also received from NOAA. BC data for November 96 for the IR channels on METEOSAT-5, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9 were shipped to the GPC. All BC reports now include normalization for the visible, standard infrared and "split-window" infrared channels (except METEOSAT which does not have a split-window channel).

In November 96, NOAA began updating solar wavelength channel calibrations on a monthly basis. Since the change in coefficients is made in the middle of the month, the normalization procedure is adversely affected. The update is based on a trend fit to 1 yr of observations of the Libyan desert: this trend is being extrapolated through the remaining lifetime of the NOAA-14 AVHRR. Since the calibration changes in subsequent months are a factor of ten smaller than the change made in the first month (actually, this is the second time that the NOAA-14 calibration has been changed), these changes will not always interfere with the normalization. However, to avoid complication, the visible calibrations of the geostationary satellites will be normalized assuming that the NOAA calibration coefficients are constant throughout the lifetime of each satellite. The GPC will continue to adjust for trends in the polar orbiter calibration as it does now. To produce a more uniform calibration, the GPC bases its trend estimates on longer time periods ( 2 yr) and uses the whole globe, rather than a specific target.

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 have been received through November 96. Deliveries since July 96 have included the calibration block, but the status of this information for the older datasets is not clear. The formatting software has not been written yet.

GOES-9 B2 data for January 96 have been delivered in final form. Deliveries have not continued. 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 now current, but only data through September 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 December 96.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through 94. Comparison of several sources of sea ice data is underway to determine 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 September and October 89 has been processed. Investigation of calibration problems in 93 continues: both METEOSAT-3 and GOES-7 show anomalies.

Addition to the ISCCP Web page last month is: a new ftp feature to allow for more convenient downloading of batches of data from our Web site. 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, EUM, 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.

The health of GOES-8, GOES-9, GMS-5, METEOSAT-5, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good. There was no report as to whether METEOSAT-6 became operational in place of METEOSAT-5 in February 97 as planned. Launch of the Chinese FY-2 is planned for March-April 97 and launch of GOES-K is planned for April 97.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 94 (11.0 years)

Stage CD: July 83 - December 94 (11.5 years)

Stage C1: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage C2: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage D1: January 86 - December 86, September 89 - December 92 ( 4.3 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - December 86, September 89 - December 92 ( 4.3 years)

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 25 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 43 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 52 months have been archived.