NUMBER 177

DATE: 04/06/98

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During February, EUM, JMA, CSU and AES processed more than 99% of A data into B1/B2 data.

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

NOA has begun processing of the backlog of B2 data; however, current funding will only allow processing through April 98. Deliveries of B2 data resumed this month with delivery of May and June 97 B2 data.

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 February 98 from GOES-8, GOES-9, METEOSAT-6, GMS-5 and NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for December 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 data is current as of April 97. B2 data have been received for May and June 97. The normalization of NOAA-14 to NOAA-9 and trend analysis of the first two years of NOAA-14 data have been completed, so production of final B3 data can begin.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current as of April 97. B2 data have been received for May and June 97. A final calibration of NOAA-12 has been completed. Based on the analysis, the VIS calibration trend reversed direction in the spring of 94, going from a slowly degrading calibration to an increasing sensitivity, which was exaggerated by increasing solar zenith angle -- NOAA-12 is now the oldest polar orbiter. Final B3 data have been delivered through December 95, but the BT data for 94 and 95 will be revised.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94. The calibration gap from September 94 through January 95, caused by loss of NOAA-11, has been eliminated, so production of final B3 data can resume.

GOES-8 B2 data deliveries are current. The formatting software has not been written yet.

GOES-9 B2 data for January 96 and for April 97 through February 98 have been delivered. Deliveries of earlier datasets are continuing. 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. Final B3 data have been produced for July through October 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94. Final B3 data have been produced for July 94 through January 95.

Production of METEOSAT-6 (preliminary) B3 data is now current.

Production of GMS-4 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through June 94. Final B3 data have been produced for July 94 through January 95.

Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 data is now current.

All B3 processing software and the B3 data formats have been revised to include, as of January 96, the normalization coefficients for all the additional spectral channels.

TOVS correlative data processing has resumed and has been completed through March 97.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through December 94. Difficulties in obtaining readable snow data for 95 have been encountered.

DX/D1/D2 for November 88 have been processed. Testing of the D-data tape production software is still underway as there are significant differences in format between mainframe and workstation. The configuration of our computer system must also be re-done to obtain useable performance. Final contents of the 5-yr (89-93) CDrom version of the D2 data have been verified on a second test version.

New D2 datasets have been added to the Web site; there are now 6 years of data available: 1986 and 1989 through 1993. 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 was declared fully operational as of 1 January 98. METEOSAT-7 will replace METEOSAT-6 in May 98. Launch of NOAA-K is scheduled for 13 May 98. METEOSAT-5 continues to move to 65E longitude to provide coverage of the Indian Ocean during INDOEX; data collection is expected to begin in July 98 and continue for at least one year, possibly longer.

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 - December 93 ( 6.1 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - January 87, January 89 - December 93 ( 6.1 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 14 months, NOA = 8 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 38 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 44 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 73 months have been archived.