NUMBER 185

DATE: 12/30/98

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

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

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

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

CSU reported sun interference with all 2100 UTC images from 29 September through 16 October; this was in addition to loss of all 0900 UTC images from 11 September through 2 November because of eclipse conditions.

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 October 98 from GOES-8, GOES-10, METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GMS-5 and NOAA-14 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for August 98 for METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7 and GOES-8 were shipped to the GPC. Production of BC data for August 98 for GMS-5 is delayed because the delivered AC data were for the wrong month. BC for GOES-10 is delayed by discovery of an error in the VIS nominal calibration tables; the error occurred because the scan direction of the imager is the reverse of the nominal direction (associated with the fact that GOES-10 is operated "upside down" because of a problem with the solar arrays).

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.

A complete upgrade of the building computer network has been underway since late October, which has significantly degraded computer performance and reliability for the past 6 weeks. This situation continues for December and the foreseeable future. Because of this problem, the upgrade to the tape silo has been postponed until sometime next month.

Production of NOAA-14 (preliminary) B3 data is current as of April 98; no further B2 data have been received. A new version of the calibration tables (BT data) has been produced and is being shipped for all B3 already delivered to the ICA. Final B3 data have been produced through April 97.

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 April 97.

Production of GOES-7 (preliminary) B3 data is complete. Final B3 data have been produced through June 95. Production of B3 data for July 95 using the "predict" Orbit and Attitude data was successful; processing of the final B3 data has resumed.

GOES-8 B2 data deliveries are current. Development of the formatting software has begun.

GOES-9 B2 data deliveries are current; however, irregularities in the tape format have been discovered requiring replacement of the data. 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. Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-5 (at 63E) are current.

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 July and August 94 have been processed and all data for January through August 94 are being delivered to the ICA. Release of the first CDrom of D2 data (for 89-93) is imminent.

An announcement of the VIS calibration error for NOAA-14 that affects some delivered B3 data has been posted on the Web page. 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. Collection of NOAA-12 data will cease in mid-December 98; collection of NOAA-15 data will commence as soon thereafter as possible.

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 - August 94 ( 8.7 years)

Stage D2: January 86 - August 94 ( 8.7 years)

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (NOA = 6 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 36 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 142 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 104 months have been archived.