NUMBER 239 DATE: 06/05/03

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During April, JMA and NOA processed more than 99% of A data into B1/B2 data. No reports were received from EUM for March and April or from MSC and CSU for April.

Normal operations for April were reported by JMA and NOA. JMA switched operations from GMS-5 to GOES-9 (located at 155E) on 22 May 03. CSU is collecting back-up GOES-12 data until MSC operations are reported to be stable.

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 April 03 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-10 and GOES-12 and NOAA-16 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for February 03 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. New B3 formatter and B3-READ codes have been completed.

Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-17 are current.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-8 are complete through March 03. 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.

The first delivery of GOES-12 B2 (replacing GOES-8) for April 03 has not been received.

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 complete through April 03. Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 01. Final B3 data have been produced through September 01. GMS-5 was replaced by GOES-9 on 22 May 03.

A sample of radiance data from the Chinese FY-2 satellite has been obtained and a test of the format is underway.

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 continues.

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

Plots showing the AVHRR calibration procedure and the history of the NOAA polar orbiters and calibration results have been added to the radiance calibration pages. The entire D2 dataset is now available on the 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.

The first meeting of the GEWEX Radiation Panel's Working Group on Data Management and Analysis (WGDMA) was held on 12-16 May 03 in Asheviille, North Carolina, hosted by the NOAA National Climate Data Center. A separate report of the meeting will be distributed soon. Notable highlights include: (1) the decision to work towards producing a monthly mean data product that is the merger of all the GRP data products, (2) the decision to develop and apply a common set of statistical analyses to all datasets, posting the results on all project and the GRP Web sites, (3) the decision to re-activate the GVAP project by conducting an in-depth assessment of available global, long-term tropospheric water vapor datasets, and (4) the recommendation that the GRP/WGDMA conduct an assessment of its global, long-term data products (precipitation, clouds, radiation budget). It was also decided to investigate the feasibility of preparing the ISCCP B1 radiance data for processing by GPCP to extend their daily-resolution precipitation product back from 1997 to 1983.

The health of GOES-9, GOES-10, GOES-12, METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, NOAA-16 and NOAA-17 remained good. METEOSAT-6 and GOES-11 are in stand-by mode and MSG-1 (to be named METEOSAT-8 when operational) is being commissioned. GOES-9 I(located at 155E) replaced GMS-5 on 22 May 03. MTSAT-1R is now scheduled for launch in early 04. NOAA stopped the switching of the AVHRR Channel 3 spectral response between 1.6 and 3.7 microns as of 1 May 03, leaving it set to 3.7 microns at all times. The switching continues on NOAA-17.

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 (EUM = 2 months, MSC and CSU = 1 month).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 13 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 219 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = 13 months (with respect to planned schedule). D1/D2 data for 219 months have been archived.