NUMBER 243 DATE: 10/07/03

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During August, EUM and NOA processed 100% of A data into B1/B2 data. No reports for August were received from MSC, CSU or JMA. During July, CSU and EUM reported processing 100% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for August were reported by EUM and NOA. The GMS-5 B1/B2 data for April and May 03 have been delivered. CSU began delivery of the GOES-12 data as backup for MSC; so far, data for March through May 03 have been delivered. The status of MSC operations is unknown.

CSU is now supplying the AC data for GOES-12 until MSC operations resume.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for August 03 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7 and NOAA-16. BC data for June 03 for GOES-10, GOES-12, METEOSAT-5 and METEOSAT-7 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 infrared calibration has now been verified. Final B3 data have been produced through July 03.

Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-17 are current. Production of NOAA-17 (preliminary) B3 is complete through July 03. Final B3 data have been produced through July 03.

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.

Delivery of GOES-12 B2 (replacing GOES-8) is complete through May 03.

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 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. The error in the mapping of the snow/ice dataset has been corrected (it was a subtle difference between mainframe and UNIX compilers) and the data for 98 through 01 re-processed. Production of the snow/ice dataset has also been extended through June 03.

DX/D1/D2 data processing is complete through September 01. Re-processing to fix the snow mapping problem has begun and is complete through 99. Testing of the liquid cloud part of the cloud particle size retrieval code continues.

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

Tables have been added to the ISCCP Web site that provide the up-to-date version numbers for all ISCCP data products. New descriptive material has been added to provide more information about the cloud analysis algorithm, both old and new versions, and to provide complete documentation of the map grid information, including the topography and vegetation type information used in the analysis. The data analysis section has been expanded to provide cloud-type distribution information in the form of two-dimensional frequency histograms of cloud top pressure and optical thickness; these histograms can be viewed on-line or downloaded.

The whole calibration dataset (Stage BT data) and the ancillary map grid dataset that accompanies the gridded data products are now available on the ISCCP ftp site. The entire D2 dataset is also 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 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 and NOAA-17 remained good. The AVHRR scan motor on NOAA-16 began sticking on 17 September 03; an investigation was conducted and corrective action taken. It appeared during the last week of September that normal operations had resumed. 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. India began operations of its first solely meteorological satellite, now called Kampala-1.

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

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

Stage SI: July 83 - June 03 (20.0 years)

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

Satellite Network

B Level Data Products

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (JMA = 1 month, CSU = 1 month for GOES-10, 3 months for GOES-12).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 17 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 219 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = 17 months (with respect to planned schedule). D1/D2 data for 219 months have been archived.