NUMBER 261 DATE: 04/12/05

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During February, NOA, JMA , EUM and CSU processed more than 99% of A data into B1/B2 data. MSC data deliveries are up to date, but no reports were received for the past few months.

Normal operations for February were reported by NOA, JMA, EUM and CSU. EUM replaced all monthly reports from September 04 through January 05.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for February 05 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-9, GOES-10, and GOES-12 but not for NOAA-16 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for December 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 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 December 04. Final B3 data have been produced through December 04.

Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-17 are current. Production of NOAA-17 (preliminary) B3 is complete through December 04. Final B3 data have been produced through December 04.

Deliveries of B2 from GOES-9 (at 155E) are current. Production of GOES-9 (preliminary) B3 is complete through September 04. Final B3 data have been produced through June 04

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-10 are current. Production of GOES-10 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 04 Final B3 data have been produced through June 04.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-12 are current. Production of GOES-12 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 04. Final B3 data have been produced through June 04.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-5 (at 63E) are current. Production of METEOSAT-5 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through September 04 Final B3 data have been produced through June 04.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-7 are current. Production of METEOSAT-7 (preliminary) B3 data is compete through September 04. Final B3 data have been produced through June 04.

A whole month radiance data from the Chinese FY-2B satellite has been obtained to test processing into B3 format; however, complete documentation in English does not seem to be available. A sample of FY-2C data for which such documentation exists will be sought from CMA.

Deliveries of TOVS correlative data are current. TOVS processing is complete through December 04.

Deliveries of snow/ice correlative data are current. SI processing is complete through September 04.

DX/D1/D2 data processing is complete through December 03; delivery will be delayed to examine the whole time period more carefully.

The tropical convection identification and tracking survey has been completed for the whole ISCCP time period, July 83 -- June 01. The on-line ISCCP Convection Colocator library has been updated. This software and database provides, for any specified date, time and location, the properties and lifecycle history of the nearest mesoscale convective cloud system found in the ISCCP DX dataset.

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

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, formats and READ software for the B1 datasets up to the same level as for the B3 datasets. A prototype version of these data, to be called B1U, is now being examined to test their accuracy and usefulness.

The health of GOES-9, GOES-10, GOES-12, METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7 and NOAA-17 remained good. METEOSAT-6 and GOES-11 are in stand-by mode. Both the AVHRR and HIRS instruments on NOAA-16 are experiencing noticeable noise that degrades data quality. NOAA-N is now scheduled for launch on 11 May 05. MSG-2 launch is now scheduled for June 05 and METOP-1 launch is scheduled for April 06. MTSAT-1R was successfully launched on 26 February 05. FY-2C commissioning continues to progress successfully; full operations are planned to begin in May 05.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 04 (21.0 years)

Stage TV: July 83 - December 04 (21.5 years)

Stage SI: July 83 - June 04 (21.0 years)

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

Satellite Network

B Level Data Products

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data ().

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = 2 month (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 252 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = 35 months (with respect to planned schedule). D1/D2 data for 219 months have been archived.