NUMBER 170

DATE: 09/04/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During July, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU processed greater than 95% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for July 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 reported resumption of data deliveries as a resolution of the funding shortfall appears to be in place. Radio interference continues to cause 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 July 97 from NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS), METEOSAT-6, and GMS-5. BC data for April and May 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 complete. 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 been halted to revise B3 software and data formats to include the normalization coefficients for the additional spectral channels.

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. Production has been halted to revise B3 software and data formats to include the normalization coefficients for the additional spectral channels.

All B3 processing software and the B3 data formats are being revised to include, as of January 96, the normalization coefficients for all the additional spectral channels. Changes to the formatter and quality checking codes have been completed.

TOVS correlative data processing has been completed through January 97.

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 November 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 February and June 93 has been completed.

The final paper in a series, reporting recent updates to the ISCCP calibrations, has been posted to the ISCCP Web page. Some corrections to the documents describing the B3 data and their calibrations have also been posted. Another GCSS WG3 case study has been animated. A comparison has been added of the cloud properties in a midlatitude cyclone observed by ISCCP and simulated by a "cloud-resolving" model, a "limited-area" model, and a GCM, showing that the models produce realistic cloud properties during the mature phase of the storm but have more trouble at the beginning of the storm development. 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.

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 towards full operations in October 97. METEOSAT-7 was successfully launched on 2 September 97. Launch of NOAA-K has been delayed until January 98; no change in orbit will be made.

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, November 88 - July 93 ( 5.8 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, November 88 - July 93 ( 5.8 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 18 months, NOA = 3 month).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 31 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 42 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 70 months have been archived.