ISCCP PROJECT STATUS REPORT

NUMBER 267                                                                                                                       DATE: 10/11/05

CENTER ACTIVITIES

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During August, NOA and JMA processed more than 99% of A data into B1/B2 data. CSU reported processing the following amounts of A data into B1/B2 data: 100% for March, 99% for April, 100% for May, 100% for June and 98% for July.

Normal operations for August were reported by NOA and JMA. No reports have been received from EUM for July and August and from CSU and MSC for August.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for August 05 from METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-9, GOES-10, GOES-12; AC data from NOAA-16 (AVHRR and HIRS) were received for June, July and August. BC data for May/June 05 for METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-7, GOES-9, GOES-10 and GOES-12 were shipped to the GPC.

Work continues to accommodate the AC data for MTSAT, FY-2C and MSG (METEOSAT-8).

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-18 commenced with June 05 and are current.

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 155°E) 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 63°E) 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.

Arrangements to begin delivery of FY-2C and MSG-1 (METEOSAT-8) data have been made. The formatter software for FY-2C, METEOSAT-8 and MTSAT is still being developed.

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 processing of the cloud particle size survey has been completed for the whole ISCCP period (actually from September 81 thru December 04), but some analysis of the results is still needed to design the final product before its release.

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

The cloud climatology plots and browse data, the BT and D2 holdings on the ftp site, the radiance calibration and product version number tables have all been updated through December 04.

The ISCCP World Wide Web Home Page can be accessed at URL

http://isccp.giss.nasa.gov

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.

SATELLITE HEALTH

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; GOES-11 may be activated next year to replace GOES-10. METEOSAT-8 is also operating routinely. 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 and replaced NOAA-16 in late September 05. The launch of GOES-N has been delayed again until November 05 at the earliest. MSG-2 launch has been re-scheduled for November 05. The status of MTSAT-1R is still pending. FY-2C is reported to be operational. The launches of METOP-1 and ALOS have been delayed. The launch of Cryosat on 8 October failed with the loss of the satellite.

DATA DELIVERED

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

OPEN ITEMS

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