NUMBER 165

DATE: 04/07/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During February, NOA, EUM, JMA, and CSU processed greater than 90% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for February were reported by NOA, EUM, JMA, and CSU. No reports or data were received from AES; no data were received from EUM or CSU.

CSU's new tape drive has been repaired, so production of B2 data tapes has begun. CSU is supplying the AC data for GOES-8 while AES revises their format.

CSU deliveries are current through January 96, EUM data deliveries are current through September 96, and AES data deliveries are current through November 96.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for January and February 97 from METEOSAT-5 and for February 97 from NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS), GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9. The HIRS AC data are being obtained directly by the SCC from their satellite operations center. BC data for November 96 for the VIS 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).

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. 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 completed through June 96. Deliveries of B2 data have been received through September 96. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

GMS-5 B2 data deliveries are current. The new formatting software has been completed, but there appears to be some problem with the navigation, which is being investigated. 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 July and August 89 has been processed. Investigation of calibration problems in 93 continues: both METEOSAT-3 and GOES-7 show anomalies.

The ISCCP Web page was re-organized to provide a separate section for the GEWEX Cloud System Study case study datasets: two new case study datasets were added, one for CASP II and one for TRACE-A. 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 96.

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 GOES-K is scheduled for 24 April 97. Launch of the Chinese FY-2 has been delayed until late May 97 and launch of NOAA-K has been delayed until January 98.

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, July 89 - December 92 ( 4.5 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - December 86, July 89 - December 92 ( 4.5 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 12 months, EUM = 5 months, AES = 3 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 26 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 44 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 54 months have been archived.