NUMBER 169

DATE: 08/05/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During June, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU processed greater than 98% of A data into B1/B2 data. B2 data were also received from AES for May, containing more than 97% of the total possible.

Normal operations for June were reported by EUM, JMA, AES and CSU.

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 reported loss of some images in June because of station-keeping maneuvers; also some radio interference is causing occasional line drops in GOES-9 images.

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.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for June 97 from NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS), METEOSAT-6, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-9. BC data for April 97 for METEOSAT-6, 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 now complete, having been finished through April 95, including the special CD-ROM datasets. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete, having received the remaining B2 data for October - December 96, and processed it through February 97. 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 complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94.

GMS-5 B2 data deliveries are current. Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 has commenced and has been completed through December 95. The new nominal calibration sent by JMA will not be used since final calibration by normalization to AVHRR would produce the same result regardless of which nominal calibration is used.

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 December 88 has been processed. The investigation of the VIS calibration problems for METEOSAT-3 and GOES-7 in the second half of 93 continues; however DX/D1/D2 for March, April and May 93 has been completed.

The paper by Brest and Rossow (1992), which documents the calibration monitoring procedures for AVHRR, has been posted on the ISCCP Home Page. The most recent paper giving an update on the AVHRR calibration monitoring of AVHRR will be posted soon. A correction to the document describing the D-series data has been posted. Browse images from the D2 data for 89 have been added, as well as an animation of the DX data for one of GCSS WG3 case studies. 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 satellite continues through its checkout; images have been collected from all channels. Operations are planned to begin in October 97. Launch of NOAA-K has been delayed until January 98; no change in orbit will be made. Recent tests appear to provide a solution to the solar panel pointing problem on GOES-10 (in storage). The Japanese research satellite, ADEOS, was 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, December 88 - January 93 ( 5.3 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, December 88 - January 93 ( 5.3 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 17 months, NOA = 2 month).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 30 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 48 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 63 months have been archived.