NUMBER 296 DATE: 05/09/08

Sector Processing Center (SPC):

During February and March, NOA, EUM, MSC, CSU and JMA processed greater than 92% of A data into B1/B2 data. No reports for March were received from MSC and CSU.

Normal operations for February were reported by NOA, EUM, MSC, CSU and JMA and for March by NOA and JMA. EUM reported that a delay in verification of upgrades to their processing system because of holidays has delayed distribution of the B1/B2 data for almost all of March.

Satellite Calibration Center (SCC):

AC data were received for February and March 08 from MTSAT-1R, FY-2C, METEOSAT-7, METEOSAT-9, GOES-11, GOES-12 and NOAA-18. BC data are complete through January 08 for MTSAT-1R, FY-2C, METEOSAT-7, METEOSAT-9, GOES-11 and GOES-12.

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 for METEOSAT-7 and GOES-12 which do not have a split-window channel).

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 are current. Production of NOAA-18 (preliminary) B3 is complete through December 07. Final B3 data have been produced through June 07.

Deliveries of B2 data from NOAA-17 are current. Production of NOAA-17 (preliminary) B3 is complete through December 07. Final B3 data have been produced through June 07.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-11 are current. Production of GOES-11 (preliminary) B3 is complete through June 07. Final B3 data have been produced through June 07.

Deliveries of B2 data from GOES-12 are current. Production of GOES-12 (preliminary) B3 is complete through June 07. Final B3 data have been produced through June 07.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-7 (at 55E) are current. Production of METEOSAT-7 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through June 07. Final B3 data have been produced through June 07.

Deliveries of B2 data from METEOSAT-9 are current. Production of METEOSAT-9 (preliminary) B3 data is complete through June 07. Final B3 data have been produced through June 07.

Deliveries of B2 data from MTSAT-1R are current. Production of MTSAT-1R (preliminary) B3 is complete through June 07. Final B3 data have been produced through June 07.

Delivery of B2 data from FY-2C are current.

Deliveries of TOVS correlative data are current. TOVS processing is complete through June 07.

Deliveries of snow/ice correlative data are current. SI processing is complete through June 07.

DX/D1/D2 data processing is now complete through June 07 (without FY-2C). All of the MTSAT-1R VIS data has been re-calibrated and the DX/D1/D2 products for 2006 have been revised to provide the corrected results. Next, processing of FY-2C will commence and the D1/D2 products will be replaced with a version including it.

The online bibliography of papers based on ISCCP datasets has been updated through December 06; over 1300 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 June 07.

A new "storminess" database has been added to the ISCCP (and DIME) website; this database indicates the location and motion of midlatitude cyclone storms and determines which geographic locations are associated with which storm center. Based on an analysis of the 6-hr sea level pressures from the NCEP reanalysis, the database covers both the northern and southern midlatitudes for the period 1948-2007. However, quality, especially in the southern hemisphere is probably less good before 1979.

The ISCCP Home Page can be accessed at URL

ISCCP Central Archives (ICA):

The ICA at NOAA NCDC continued to receive B1 data from NOA, JMA, EUM, CSU, MSC and CMA and B3 and DX/D1/D2 data from the GPC in a routine manner.

The health of GOES-11, MTSAT-1R, METEOSAT-7, METEOSAT-9, FY-2C, NOAA-17 and NOAA-18 remained good. METEOSAT-5, METEOSAT-6, METEOSAT-8, GOES-13 and MTSAT-2 are in stand-by mode. GOES-10 has been moved to 60 degrees west longitude to provide better coverage of South America; Brazil has indicated plans to provide B1/B2 data from this satellite for ISCCP.

Stage B3: July 83 - June 07 (24.0 years)

Stage TV: July 83 - June 07 (24.0 years)

Stage SI: July 83 - June 07 (24.0 years)

Stage D: July 83 - June 06 (24.0 years)

Satellite Network

B Level Data Products

* Delivery backlogs for B2 data (none)

* Delivery backlog for B3 data = +3 month (with respect to planned schedule). B3 data for 288 months have been archived.

* Delivery backlog for DX/D1/D2 data = +3 months (with respect to planned schedule. D data for 288 months have been archived.