NUMBER 236 DATE: 03/13/03

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During January, EUM, JMA, MSC, CSU, and NOA processed more than 98% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for January were reported by EUM, JMA, MSC, CSU and NOA. JMA reported that efforts were underway to switch operations from GMS-5 to GOES-9 (to be located at 155E) towards the end of April. MSC is preparing to switch from GOES-8 to GOES-12, possibly in early April. NOAA operations, both SPC and ICA, are being transferred from NOAA NESDIS in Suitland, Maryland, where they have been since the beginning of ISCCP in 1983, to NOAA NCDC in Asheville, North Carolina.

CSU is still supplying the AC data for GOES-8 because the SCC has not accepted the revised format from MSC.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for January 03 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-10 and for December 02 and January 03 for NOAA-16 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for November 02 for METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GMS-5, GOES-8 and GOES-10 were shipped to the GPC.

All AC data are now received via Internet.

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 by Internet. All data products (except DX) from the GPC are delivered by ftp to NOAA/NCDC and to NASA Langley.

Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-16 are current. A new B3-formatter code, which accommodates the switching between the 1.6 and 3.7 micron channels, has been completed and is now being tested. This change also requires a revision of the B3-READ code to handle any number of extra spectral channels, so the B3-READ software is being modernized (FORTRAN-90) to maintain compatibility with all B3 data.

Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-17 are current.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-8 are current. Production of GOES-8 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 01. Final B3 data have been produced through September 01.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-10 are current. Production of GOES-10 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 01. Final B3 data have been produced through September 01.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-5 (at 63E) are current. Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 01. Final B3 data have been produced through September 01.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-7 are current. Production of METEOSAT-7 (preliminary) B3 data is compete through September 01. Final B3 data have been produced through September 01.

Deliveries of B2 data from GMS-5 are current. Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 01. Final B3 data have been produced through September 01.

A sample of radiance data from the Chinese FY-2 satellite has been obtained, so study of the minimum format changes required to produce B2 data from this satellite will begin.

Deliveries of TOVS correlative data are current. TOVS processing is complete through September 01. A format change in TOVS occurred in October 01, so the processing software will have to be modified.

Deliveries of snow/ice correlative data are current. Production of the snow/ice dataset is complete through December 01.

DX/D1/D2 data processing is complete through September 01. Processing of a land surface albedo dataset based on AVHRR has commenced; combining this product with MISR angle-dependence information will provide a background surface reflectivity dataset that can be used to extend the GACP aerosol retrievals to land (snow and ice?) areas.

Three CDs of D2 data are now available from NASA Langley, covering 83-88, 89-93 and 94-98.

The entire D2 dataset is now available on the ISCCP Web site. Browse data now available on the Web site are monthly mean data for July 83 through September 01 and climatology results based on the period July 83 through September 01. The radiance calibration tables have been updated through September 01. 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, MSC, EUM, CSU and JMA and B3 and D data from the GPC in a routine manner.

In order to facilitate closer cooperation as well as work on joint or common projects, the data management working groups of all the GEWEX global satellite projects, including ISCCP, have been merged into the GEWEX Radiation Panel Working Group on Data Management and Analysis (WGDMA). As the name suggests, this working group will conduct or oversee some data analysis activities in addition to the continued management of the projects' data collection and processing activities. The first meeting of WGDMA is scheduled for 12-16 May 03 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, hosted by NOAA NCDC.

The health of GOES-8, GOES-10, GMS-5, METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, NOAA-16 and NOAA-17 remained good. METEOSAT-6, GOES-11 and GOES-12 are in stand-by mode. GOES-12 is now scheduled to replace GOES-8 at the end of March 03. GOES-9 is moving to 155E to replace GMS-5 at the end of April. MTSAT-1R will be launched in summer 03 with operations planned to begin at the end of the year. ICESAT was successfully launched on 12 January 03; although the primary mission is ice sheet altimetry, the lidar is also sensitive to clouds and aerosols so it will provide information about these as a precursor to the CloudSat and Calipso missions planned for launch in November 04. SORCE, a total and spectral solar irradiance mission, was successfully launched on 25 January 03.

Stage B3: July 83 - September 01 (18.2 years)

Stage TV: July 83 - September 01 (18.2 years)

Stage SI: July 83 - December 01 (18.5 years)

Stage D: July 83 - September 01 (18.2 years)

Satellite Network

B Level Data Products

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (none).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 10 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 219 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = 10 months (with respect to planned schedule). D1/D2 data for 219 months have been archived.