NUMBER 167

DATE: 06/09/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During April, NOA, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU processed greater than 93% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for April were reported by NOA, EUM, JMA and AES.

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. No change in this situation has occurred.

EUM reported shipping B2 data for October 96 through April 97, eliminating its delivery backlog; however, the October - December 96 data were apparently lost in the mail. Replacement B2 data has been shipped.

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

CSU reported a number of special activities on GOES-9 that caused losses of images, including a two-week scan motor re-conditioning, a station-keeping maneuver, and eclipse operations. A bureaucratic difficulty has arisen that has prevented data deliveries.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for April 97 from NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS), METEOSAT-6, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9. BC data for February 97 for METEOSAT-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9 and for February and March 97 for GMS-5 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, but the software changes needed for this have been completed. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through September 96. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

Formatter software changes needed to process METEOSAT-6 have been completed, so that processing of (preliminary) B3 data can begin.

GMS-5 B2 data deliveries are current. The navigation problem for GMS-5 has been resolved and processing of GMS-5 B2 into B3 will commence later this month. Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through May 95. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

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 March and April 89 has been processed. The investigation of the VIS calibration problems for METEOSAT-3 and GOES-7 in the second half of 93 continues. The March 89 dataset includes the first processing and use of INSAT data: merger of these data appears to have been successful.

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. Launch of the Chinese FY-2 is expected in June 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, March 89 - January 93 ( 4.8 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, March 89 - January 93 ( 4.8 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 15 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 28 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 46 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 58 months have been archived.