NUMBER 166

DATE: 05/05/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During March, NOA, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU processed greater than 94% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for March were reported by NOA, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU. The AES B2 delivery backlog was eliminated. B2 data for October 96 through January 97 were shipped by EUM, but not yet received by the GPC.

NOA reported a funding shortfall for this fiscal year that will terminate deliveries of B2 data after April 97 unless additional funding can be found.

EUM reported the transition of operations from METEOSAT-5 to METEOSAT-6 on 13 February 97 at 0830 UTC.

CSU is still supplying the AC data for GOES-8 while AES revises their format.

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

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for March 97 from NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS), METEOSAT-6, GMS-5, and GOES-9. BC data for December 96 and January 97 for 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), and the "water vapor" channels.

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 deliveries are current. 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. The new Navy sea ice product is becoming available; however, data for 95 and 96 apparently will not be available this year. 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 May and June 89 has been processed. The METEOSAT-3 VIS calibration problem for the first half of 93 has been resolved, but investigation of the VIS calibration problems for METEOSAT-3 and GOES-7 in the second half of 93 continues.

No changes were made to the ISCCP Web page this month. 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-6, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good. METEOSAT-6 became operational in place of METEOSAT-5 on 13 February 97 at 0830 UTC. GOES-10 was successfully launched on 25 April 97 and will be stored in orbit until needed. Launch of the Chinese FY-2 has been delayed until late May 97 and launch of NOAA-K has been delayed until January 98. A change of the orbit for NOAA-K is being considered, from the usual 0800 equator-crossing time to a 1000 equator-crossing.

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 - January 87, May 89 - December 92 ( 4.75 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, May 89 - December 92 ( 4.75 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 14 months, EUM = 6 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 27 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 45 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 57 months have been archived.