NUMBER 178

DATE: 05/11/98

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During March, EUM, JMA and CSU processed more than 92% of A data into B1/B2 data.

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

NOA is processing of the backlog of B2 data; B2 data July and August 97 were delivered this month.

AES experienced a software change upstream of their collection that caused the loss of data from 5 March, GMT 1800 through 12 March, GMT 2100. CSU was alerted to provide backup data for this period.

CSU reported loss of GOES-9 images for GMT 0600 and 0900 from 7 February through 1 March due to scan motor conditioning activities. Other collection problems caused the loss of data for a couple of days in March. CSU collected GOES-8 backup data in March, acquiring 86% of the needed 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 March 98 from GOES-8, GOES-9, METEOSAT-6, GMS-5 and NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for January 98 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 through August 97. Production of final B3 has commenced; final B3 data have been produced for January through June 95.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current as of April 97. B2 data have been received through August 97. The NOAA-12 BT data for 94 and 95 has been 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 March 98 have been delivered. Deliveries of earlier datasets are continuing. The formatting software has not been written yet.

Production of METEOSAT-3 final B3 data is complete through April 95, the end of the METEOSAT-3 data. Final B3 data have been delivered through December 94.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been delivered through December 94.

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

Production of GMS-4 final B3 data is complete through June 95, the end of the GMS-4 data. Final B3 data have been delivered through December 94.

Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 data is 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 April 97.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through December 94. Difficulties in obtaining readable snow data for 95 and 96 have been encountered. Sea ice data through June 97 have been obtained.

DX/D1/D2 for September and October 88 have been processed. The first delivery of DX data (for October - December 88) on a new tape medium has been made and is being checked. Testing of the D-data tape production software is still underway. Computer configuration changes have successfully increased production speed to a useful level. Final contents of the 5-yr (89-93) CDrom version of the D2 data have been verified.

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 = 7 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 39 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 132 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 45 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 73 months have been archived.