NUMBER 168

DATE: 07/03/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During May, NOA, EUM, JMA and CSU processed greater than 98% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for May were reported by EUM, JMA and CSU. No report was received from AES.

NOA reported a funding shortfall that has terminated deliveries of B2 data as of April 97. No change in this situation has occurred.

CSU has also reported a funding shortfall that prevents delivery of any GOES-9 B2 data until it is resolved.

CSU is still supplying the AC data for GOES-8 until AES revises their format. AES has reported completion of this revision, but the new format has not be confirmed by the SCC.

JMA sent CDs containing a revised nominal calibration record for GMS-5.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for May 97 from NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS), METEOSAT-6, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9. BC data for March 97 for METEOSAT-6, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9 were shipped to the GPC. A CD containing a revised calibration record for GMS-5 was received from JMA.

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 are now being processed; January 95 B3 (preliminary) is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is completed through September 96. The METEOSAT-5 B2 data for October - December 96 have not been received. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

Production of METEOSAT-6 (preliminary) B3 has started.

Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is completed. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

GMS-5 B2 data deliveries are current. Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 is awaiting clarification of a new nominal calibration sent by JMA.

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 January and February 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 paper by Desormeaux et al. (1993), which documents the calibration normalization procedures, has been posted on the ISCCP Home Page. Two papers concerning the calibration monitoring of AVHRR will be posted soon. 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. The Chinese FY-2 was successfully launched on 10 June 97 and will eventually be positioned at 105E longitude. 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. GOES-10 (in storage) has developed problems with pointing its solar panels towards the sun, which if not resolved could cause the loss of the satellite. The Japanese research satellite, ADEOS, has apparently been lost.

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, January 89 - January 93 ( 5.2 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, January 89 - January 93 ( 5.2 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 16 months, NOA = 1 month).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 29 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 47 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 62 months have been archived.