NUMBER 172

DATE: 11/07/97

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During September, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU processed greater than 97% of A data into B1/B2 data.

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

NOA reported a funding shortfall that has terminated deliveries of B2 data as of April 97. No change in this situation has occurred; in fact, funds for FY98 do not appear to be sufficient to resume data deliveries.

CSU reported GOES-9 scan motor re-conditioning operations through 3 September causing the loss of at least two images per day until that time. Losses of images during eclipse operations occurred during September. The new B2 data, containing all five spectral channels, was delivered to the GPC for June through September 97.

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 September 97 from GOES-8, GOES-9, METEOSAT-6, GMS-5 and NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for July 97 for METEOSAT-6, 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 and for June through September 97 have been delivered. 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. The data from January 96 onwards will have to be revised to include the normalization coefficients for the additional spectral channels; this re-processing has commenced with July 96 data. 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. The code changes are complete.

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 July 96. B3 production software modifications to accommodate the additional spectral channels are complete.

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 geosat formatters and quality checking codes have been completed.

TOVS correlative data processing has been completed through January 97. Another unannounced format change in February 97 is being investigated.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through 94. Comparison of several sources of sea ice data has been completed and a revised (improved) processing scheme has been developed to produce sea ice data from the standard dataset produced by the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Since the supply of data from the Navy is still uncertain, the NSIDC dataset will be used for ISCCP processing. Snow and sea ice data through 96 have been received.

DX/D1/D2 for July and August 88 and for July and August 93 have been processed; however, an error has been discovered that affects all the D-series data for July 88 through March 89 (only September 88 through March 89 data have been delivered to the archives). By mistake the old calibration datasets for NOAA-9 and NOAA-11 were used to processes these data. These data will be re-processed next. The February 93 dataset has been re-processed to include METEOSAT-3 data. These data were not included because we did not have the correct navigation routine; this routine was supplied by EUMETSAT. The GPC staffing is now complete. The proto-type of the D-data processing system on workstation is still being tested.

A new version of the READ software for D1 data has been posted on the Web page to correct a minor bug in the previously released software. 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 GOES-8 Sounder filter wheel jammed for part of a day on 29 October, but appears to be working correctly now. The Chinese FY-2 satellite continues through its checkout towards full operations. METEOSAT-7 was successfully launched on 2 September 97 and will replace METEOSAT-6 in November 97. METEOSAT-5 will be moved to eastward to cover the Indian ocean once METEOSAT-7 is in operation. 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, September 88 - August 93 ( 6.1 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, September 88 - August 93 ( 6.1 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 16 months, NOA = 5 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 33 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 43 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 73 months have been archived.