NUMBER 252 DATE: 07/12/04

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During May, NOA, CSU and JMA processed more than 99% of A data into B1/B2 data. MSC re-started data processing on 9 June 04. MSC and CSU will continue with parallel processing through July 04 to be sure that everything is working.

Normal operations for May were reported by NOA, CSU and JMA. No report has been received from EUM for April and May; however, EUM has indicated that deliveries of METEOSAT-8 (MSG-1) B1/B2 will begin in September 04.

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

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for May 04 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-9, GOES-10, GOES-12 and NOAA-16 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for March 04 for METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-9, GOES-10 and GOES-12 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 and GOES-12 which do 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. Delivery of all of the DX dataset by ftp is not feasible. Other methods for delivering these data to NOAA are now being explored.

Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-16 are current. Production of NOAA-16 (preliminary) B3 is complete through December 03. Final B3 data have been produced through December 03.

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

Deliveries of B2 from GOES-9 (at 155E) are current. Production of GOES-9 (preliminary) B3 is complete through December 03. Final B3 data have been produced through December 03.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-10 are current. Production of GOES-10 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through December 03. Final B3 data have been produced through December 03.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-12 are current. Production of GOES-12 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through December 03. Final B3 data have been produced through December 03.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-5 (at 63E) are current. Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through December 03. Final B3 data have been produced through December 03.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-7 are current. Production of METEOSAT-7 (preliminary) B3 data is compete through December 03. Final B3 data have been produced through December 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 December 03.

Deliveries of snow/ice correlative data are current. SI processing is complete through December 03.

DX/D1/D2 data processing is complete through September 01. The cloud detection algorithm, which uses the 3.7 micron channel over snow and ice surfaces in the polar regions, has been modified to employ the 1.6 micron channel in place of the 3.7 micron channel during polar daylight (the 3.7 micron channel is still used during nighttime); however, the final setting of the detection thresholds is still being tested. The actual time periods for which the 1.6 micron channel is substituted for the 3.7 micron channel during the daytime is irregular and varies from satellite to satellite, so the cloud analysis will switch between two versions of the daytime detection algorithm depending on which channel is available. However, if the available channel changes during a month, neither algorithm can be used.

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

Tables are available on the ISCCP Web site that provide the up-to-date version numbers for all ISCCP data products. The whole calibration dataset (Stage BT data) and the ancillary map grid dataset that accompanies the gridded data products are available on the ISCCP ftp site. The entire D2 dataset is also available on the ftp 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 December 03. The ISCCP World Wide Web Home Page can be accessed at URL

An article describing the GEWEX Cloud System Study -- Data Integration for Model Evaluation (GCSS-DIME) Web site appeared in the June issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. This article outlines the use of such observation-model web sites to allow for teams of modelers to develop improved model representations of clouds more effectively.

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. A new effort is underway to bring the documentation for the B1 datasets up to the same level as for the B3 datasets, mainly by developing READ programs for each dataset through all the format and satellite changes. The ICA, with assistance from the GPC, is working on this project. If successful, the next re-processing of the cloud products might be based on the B1 rather than the B3 datasets, providing 10 km sampling rather than 30 km sampling (GPCP is also exploring the use of the B1 dataset to extend its daily precipitation product back to July 83.)

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. Full operations by METEOSAT-8 began on 29 January. Launch of MSG-2 is scheduled for early 05 and of METOP-1 for late 05. MTSAT-1R is scheduled for launch no earlier than December 04. FY-1D was successfully launched on 15 May to replace FY-1C; launch of FY-2C is now scheduled for launch in October 04. Kalpana-1 (Indian geostationary) is operational. Meteor-3M-N1 (Russian polar) is operational; launch of Meteor-3M-N2 is planned for 05.

Stage B3: July 83 - December 03 (20.5 years)

Stage TV: July 83 - December 03 (20.5 years)

Stage SI: July 83 - December 03 (20.5 years)

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

Satellite Network

B Level Data Products

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (EUM for 2 months).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = -1 month (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 246 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = 26 months (with respect to planned schedule). D1/D2 data for 219 months have been archived.