NUMBER 263 DATE: 06/03/05

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During April, NOA and JMA processed 100% of A data into B1/B2 data.

Normal operations for April were reported by NOA and JMA. No reports were received from EUM, CSU or MSC for the second month.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for April 05 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-9, GOES-10, and GOES-12 and for March and April 05 for NOAA-16 (AVHRR and HIRS). BC data for February 05 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 December 04. Final B3 data have been produced through December 04

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

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

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

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

A sample of FY-2C radiance data has been obtained to test processing into B3 format.

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 December 04.

DX/D1/D2 data processing is complete through December 04.

The online bibliography of papers based on ISCCP datasets has been updated through December 04; over 1000 ISCCP-related papers have been published.

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-18 was successfully launched on 20 May 05 to replace NOAA-16. The launch of GOES-N has been delayed until at least 15 June 05. MSG-2 launch is now scheduled for June 05. MTSAT-1R will become operational in June 05. FY-2C will become operational in June 05.

Stage B3: July 83 - December 04 (21.5 years)

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

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

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

Satellite Network

B Level Data Products

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (CSU = 2 months, MSC = 1 month, EUM = 1 month).

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = -2 months (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 258 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = -2 months (with respect to planned schedule). D1/D2 data for 258 months have been archived.