NUMBER 183

DATE: 10/05/98

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During August, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU processed more than 93% of A data into B1/B2 data.

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

NOA processing of B2 data is still on hold, pending resolution of the funding shortfall.

CSU reported a smooth transition from GOES-9 to GOES-10 in the GOES-WEST position at the end of July.

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 August 98 from GOES-8, GOES-10, METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GMS-5 and NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for June 98 for METEOSAT-5, 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 August 97. B2 data have been received through April 98. Final B3 data have been produced through December 96.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current as of December 97. B2 data have been received through April 98. Final B3 data have been produced through December 96.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been produced through June 95.

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

GOES-9 B2 data deliveries are current. The formatting software has not been written yet.

Production of METEOSAT-5 (at 0) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been produced through January 97. However, B2 data from METEOSAT-5 (at 63E) are again being received as of July 98.

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

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 is current.

Production of the ice/snow correlative dataset is complete through December 97.

DX/D1/D2 for February 87 through June 87, as well as data for January 94, have been processed. Also the D-data for November and December 88 were re-processed to correct an anomaly in the NOAA-11 visible calibration. Release of the first CDrom of D2 data (for 89-93) is expected in October.

There are now 8 years of D2 data available: 1986 through 1993. A new version of the B3 data READ program has been posted to the Web pages to accommodate the extra spectral channels and their calibration starting with January 96. Also some corrections to the B3 data documentation have been posted. Samples of the D2 data are available on 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-10, GMS-5, METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, NOAA-12 and NOAA-14 remained good. Check-out of NOAA-15 continues; operations are expected to begin in November 98, but ISCCP will continue to collect and process NOAA-12 data as long as it lasts. The Chinese FY-2A satellite continues partial operations. China plans launch of FY-1C (polar orbiter) in 1999 and of FY-2B in 2000. NOAA plans launch of GOES-11 in May 99. Russia plans launches of Meteor-3M-1 (polar orbiter) in 1999 and of 3M-2 and another GOMS (geostationary) in 2000. India currently has two operational geostationary satellites INSAT-1D and INSAT-2B and is planning the launch of the first INSAT-3. Planning is underway to add data from the Chinese satellites to the ISCCP collection, but there are no plans to collect data from the Indian or Russian satellites.

Stage B3: July 83 - April 95 (11.8 years)

Stage CD: July 83 - December 97 (14.5 years)

Stage C1: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage C2: July 83 - June 91 ( 8.0 years)

Stage D1: January 86 - December 93 ( 8.0 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - December 93 ( 8.0 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (NOA = 4 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 34 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 142 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 50 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 96 months have been archived.