NUMBER 242 DATE: 09/05/03
Sector Processing Center (SPC):
During July, JMA and NOA processed greater than 99% of A data into B1/B2 data. No reports for July were received from MSC, CSU or EUM.
Normal operations for July were reported by JMA and NOA. May B1/B2 data from JMA, which are a mixture of GMS-5 and GOES-9, have not been delivered yet. The GOES-12 data collected at CSU have not been delivered yet, but CSU has made available a test dataset to verify format. The status of MSC operations is unknown.
At the recent GOES User Workshop, CSU submitted our request for a re-scheduling of the near-midnight full disk images during eclipse season. No response from NOAA has been received.
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 July 03 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-10, GOES-12 and NOAA-16. BC data for March and April 03 for GOES-12 and for May 03 for METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, 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. Production of NOAA-16 (preliminary) B3 is complete through July 03. The calibration is completed, but a possible problem with the spectral response functions for the infrared channels is being investigated.
Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-17 are current. Production of NOAA-17 (preliminary) B3 is complete through July 03. Calibration is completed.
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.
No deliveries of GOES-12 B2 (replacing GOES-8) have 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. The remainder of the GMS-5 data, covering most of May 03, have not been received. Production of GMS-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 01. Final B3 data have been produced through September 01.
Deliveries of B2 from GOES-9 (as the replacement for GMS-5) are current. The earliest GOES-9 data for the last 9 days of May 03 have not been received, however.
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. An error has been found in the mapping of one part of the snow/ice dataset used in the processing of the D-data products that appears to be related to a subtle difference between mainframe and UNIX computers. This error does not affect the delivered version of the SI dataset nor does it affect the snow/ice cover reported in the D1/D2 datasets; however, starting in 1998, it does affect the snow flag in the DX dataset and, consequently the cloud detection/retrievals. This error is being investigated.
DX/D1/D2 data processing is complete through September 01. Once the snow mapping problem is fixed, the D-products for 98 through 01 will be re-processed. Processing of a land surface albedo dataset based on AVHRR is on hold until the snow problem is fixed. Testing has begun on the liquid cloud part of the cloud particle size retrieval code.
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 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
Two articles were submitted to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society describing the ISCCP and GEWEX Cloud System Study -- Data Integration for Model Evaluation (GCSS-DIME) Web sites.
ISCCP Central Archive (ICA):
The ICA at NOAA NCDC 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 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. MTSAT-1R is scheduled for launch in early 04.
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 = 1 month, JMA = 1 month, MSC or CSU = 3 months).
* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 16 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 219 months have been archived.
* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = 16 months (with respect to planned schedule). D1/D2 data for 219 months have been archived.