NUMBER 184

DATE: 11/06/98

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During September, EUM, JMA, AES and CSU processed more than 87% of A data into B1/B2 data.

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

NOA processing of B2 data is still on hold, pending receipt of new funding.

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 98 from GOES-8, GOES-10, METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GMS-5 and NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for July 98 for METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, 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 98; no further B2 data have been received. Final B3 data have been produced through December 96, but an error in the initial calibration of NOAA-14 has been discovered. A new version of the calibration tables (BT data) is being prepared. The corrected calibration has also been extended through April 98, so that final B3 can also be prepared for delivery.

Production of NOAA-12 (preliminary) B3 data is current as of April 98; no further B2 data have been received. Final B3 data have been produced through December 96. The calibration has been extended through April 98, so that final B3 can be prepared for delivery.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been produced through June 95. The Orbit and Attitude history data for July 95 have been lost; data processing using the "predict values" is being attempted.

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. B2 data from METEOSAT-5 (at 63E) are now being received as of July 98.

Production of METEOSAT-6 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through June 98.

Production of METEOSAT-7 (preliminary) B3 data has not commenced; however, the formatting software has been completed.

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 94 through June 94 have been processed; delivery will be delayed until later this month to allow further checking of calibrations. Release of the first CDrom of D2 data (for 89-93) is imminent.

There are now 8 years of D2 data available: 1986 through 1993. Samples of all these data can be accessed on the Web page. Also, a 5-yr D2 climatology of selected cloud properties, based on the CDrom dataset (89-93), has been added for viewing and downloading. 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. 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 has been completed and regular operations begun; ISCCP will continue to collect and process NOAA-12 data as long as it lasts.

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 = 5 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 35 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 142 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for new DX/D1/D2 data = 51 months (with respect to planned schedule). C1/C2 data for 96 months have been archived. D1/D2 data for 96 months have been archived.