OpenBCM V1.08-5-g2f4a (Linux)

Packet Radio Mailbox

IZ3LSV

[San Dona' di P. JN]

 Login: GUEST





  
G4ROA  > WXSAT    27.04.09 20:27l 399 Lines 13569 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 441274G4ROA
Read: GUEST
Subj: WX Sat Status report 27/4
Path: IZ3LSV<IQ3GO<SR1BSZ<ON4HU<ON0BEL<GB7CIP<GB7COV<GB7COV
Sent: 090427/1907Z @:GB7COV.#29.GBR.EU #:61361 [Coventry] $:441274G4ROA
From: G4ROA@GB7COV.#29.GBR.EU
To  : WXSAT@WW


                         WEATHER SATELLITES
                           ================
POLAR APT, DIGITAL and GEOSTATIONARY WEEKLY STATUS.
  ===============================================

Author :   Douglas S Deans.    dsdeans@tiscali.co.uk
Sections 2, 3 and 4 have updates.

SECTION 1:   POLAR  APT/LRPT  REPORT --  27th April 2009
  ===========================================

    Satellite           Frequency (MHz)      Status        Image Quality

  NOAA 15          137.500  (APT)           on               good
  NOAA 17          137.620  (APT)           on               good
  NOAA 18          137.100  (APT)           on               good
  NOAA 19          137.9125(APT)           on         see Note 6
  Metop-A           137.100 (LRPT)         off          see Note 3

CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
None.

THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
Possible switch-on of NOAA 19 AVHRR IR channel for APT.
(should happen eventually !).

NOTES.

1. Three of the older NOAA weather satellites which have been
    decommissioned and are tumbling freely are known to sporadically put
out
    a carrier on 137.500 MHz.  The satellites are TIROS-N, NOAA 6 and NOAA
9
    When the relevant footprints overlap this will cause interference to
    NOAA 15 when active on this frequency.
    Latest report below.
    10/04/09 - Report of interference on NOAA 15 signal over east coast of
    America (probably from NOAA 9).  My thanks to Steven Ross for this
    report.

2. NOAA 16's APT transmission system failed a few months after launch.

3. Metop-A's A-side LRPT transmitter has failed.  Currently the redundant
   B-side transmitter is off until further notice (No further service
   expected due to interference with HIRS instrument).

4. NOAA 14 was decommissioned on 23rd May 2007.

5. NOAA 12 was decommissioned on 10th August 2007.

6. For several weeks the APT will carry 2 visible images (channels 1 and
     2).  The infra-red system requires out-gassing before being switched
     on and is the reason for the delay (usually about 2/3 weeks) in its
     operation.  My understanding is that the outgassing prevents
     precipitation (and contamination) when the coolers are switched on.
    Thereafter the APT format should follow the norm of Channel 2
(visible)
    and channel 4 (IR) during daylight passes, switching automatically
    to channels 3 (3A) and 4 during darkness.
    Note : It seems that the normal APT channel arrangement is not applied
    until the satellite is operational.

7. Elements are available from :-

    http://www.space-track.org    and
    http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/

LAUNCHES.
None due.


SECTION 2:   POLAR  HRPT/AHRPT  REPORT -- 27th April 2009
   ============================================
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
Please note that I received a very late report advising that FY1D
has no carrier, no modulation and no images.
I have not been able to have this confirmed as yet.

THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None expected.

Satellite          Frequency  Antenna     Mode          Image Quality
                        (MHz)
NOAA 15        1702.5       Omni         HRPT               Weak
NOAA 16        1702.5       LHCP       HRPT         Mixed ( note 3)
NOAA 17        1698.0       RHCP       HRPT               Good
NOAA 18        1707.0       RHCP       HRPT               Good
NOAA 19        1698.0       RHCP       HRPT               Good
Feng Yun 1D   1700.4       RHCP       CHRPT             Good
Feng Yun 3A        see note 5
Metop-A         1701.3       RHCP       AHRPT        Good (note 4)

NOTES.

1.  NOAA 14 was decommissioned on 23rd June 2007.

2.  NOAA 12 was decommissioned on 10th August 2007.

3. On Friday 19th September 2003 NOAA 16 developed AVHRR synch. problems
    similar  to those on NOAA 14 (and previously NOAA 15).
    Since then reports have been mixed.  Some periods of good data, some
    poor.
   UPDATE:  Scan motor performance has recently improved.

4. On 29 September 2008, EUMETSAT commenced a partial Metop-A AHRPT
   Direct Readout service. Due to the operational constraints, the
   activation of AHRPT is for a limited geographical region covering
   the North Atlantic and European area (southbound passes only).  This
   service is being introduced for a trial period of up to  2 months,
   following which the activation scenario will become operational. For
   further details on this service see:
   http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/Access_to_Data/Metop__amp__NOAA_Servic
es/SP_1117714487826?l=en

5. Feng Yun 3A was declared operational on 12th January 2009.  My thanks
to
  Johnny Lin for drawing this to my attention.
  I am also grateful to Dave Wright of Dartcom for confirming that
  unfortunately (as usual) the Chinese have not strictly complied with the
  CGMS AHRPT Global Standard so reception using a standard Metop AHRPT
  receiver is not possible.

LAUNCHES.
None due.


SECTION 3:   CONTINENTAL  GEOSTATIONARY  WORLD
  ===========================================
   WEATHER  SATELLITE  REPORT  -- 27th April 2009
     ====================================

CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
Meteosat 9 back as operational satellite.
Meteosat 8 has resumed the RSS.

THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None.

Europe & Africa
------------------
Satellite :        Meteosat 8 (9.5°E)
Data :             HRIT (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational :  Yes, RSS and Standby for Meteosat 9.

Satellite :        Meteosat 9 (0°) (note 7).
Data :             HRIT (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational :   Yes.

North America
----------------
East.

Satellite :        GOES 12 (75.0° W)
Data :             GVAR (digital) - 1685.7 MHz
                      LRIT (digital) -1691 MHz
Operational :   Yes

West.

Satellite :         GOES 11 (135°W)
Data :              GVAR (digital) - 1685.7 MHz
                       LRIT (digital) - 1691 MHz
Operational :    Yes

South America
----------------
Satellite :         GOES 10 (60°W)
                      GVAR (digital) - 1685.7 MHz
                      LRIT - No service.

Asia   (Russian Operated Satellite)
--------------------------------------

Satellite :         GOMS N2 / ELECTRO-L
Data :              HRIT/LRIT.
Operational :   Launch date unknown.

Asia  (European Operated Satellites)
----------------------------------------
Satellite :        Meteosat 7 (57.5°E)
                     HRI (digital) - 1691 MHz
                     Wefax (analogue) occasionally for ranging purposes
                     only.
Operational :  Yes.

Satellite :        Meteosat 6 (67.5°E)  (Note 2).

Asia  (Indian Operated Satellite)
-----------------------------------
Satellite :         Metsat
Data :              None available.
Operational :   Present....

Satellite :         Insat 3A  (Note 3.)
Data :             VHRR (digital) 2599 MHz
Operational :   Yes.


Asia & Oceania  (Japanese Operated Satellites)
-----------------------------------------------------
Satellite :       MTSAT-1R (140° E) (note 5.)
Data :            HRIT (digital) and LRIT(digital) on 1691 MHz.
                    (Note 6.)
Operational :  Yes.


Asia & Oceania  (Chinese Operated Satellites)
----------------------------------------------------
Satellite :         Feng Yun 2C (105°E)
Data :              SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational :   Yes.

Satellite :          Feng Yun 2D (86.5°E).
Data :              SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational :    Yes. Parallel operation with 2C.
                       (My thanks to Johnny Lin for the update).

Satellite:           Feng Yun 2E (123.3° E)
Data :              SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational :    No.   Commissioning.

NOTES.

1.  Meteosat 7 stopped its 0° service at 09.00 UTC on 14th June 2006.

2. Meteosat-6 arrived on station at 67.5 degrees East, on the 27 April
2007.
   After a short testing campaign, Meteosat-6 is now supporting the DCP
   mission over the Indian Ocean during eclipse periods.

3. Insat 3A is a combined data and meteorological satellite.

4. For those interested in EMWIN data, the following sats/frequencies
apply.

    GOES 7     (175 W)  1690.725 MHz.
    GOES 11   (135 W)  1690.725 MHz
    GOES 12   (74.5 W) 1690.725 MHz
   For further info. there are many sources but the following is
   particularly  informative:-
   http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/user-intro.htm

5.  This satellite is also known as HIMAWARI 6.

6. HiRID and WEFAX was discontinued on 12th March 2008.  It was replaced
   with HRIT/LRIT (after many months of dual dissemination).

7. Only LRIT (1691.0 MHz) is provided in direct readout.
    Full HRIT and LRIT service from Eumetcast.

LAUNCHES.
GOES O ....... Launch delayed from 28th April until mid May at the
earliest.


SECTION 4:   EUMETCAST  REPORT  -- 27th April 2009
  ======================================

       Service             Status            Eurobird 9A Satellite (9° E)

    EARS                   On          Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
    Meteosat 8            On          Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
    Meteosat 9            On         Transponder  TP63: 11976.82 MHz
    DWDSAT            On           Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
    EPS(Metop-A)     On           Transponder  TP63: 11976.82 MHz

CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
Meteosat 8 RSS Note added.
Metop Note updated.

THIS WEEK AND  FUTURE  POSSIBLE  EVENTS.
Meteosat 8 RSS.
Due to a Meteosat-8 East-West station keeping manoeuvre on 28/04/09 at
06:43:00 UTC, Users may experience degraded image quality following the
manoeuvre for up to 3 hours.
Users may experience degraded meteorological product quality following the
manoeuvre for up to 3 hours.

FUTURE EVENTS.
On 07/05/09, EUMETSAT will combine the LEO and Meteosat Operations Weekly
Schedules into one generic Operations Weekly Schedule.  The common
Operations Weekly Schedule will be delivered to the User community via
EUMETCast, the UNS Web pages and as part of the email alert service.  The
delivery format on EUMETCast will be ASCII and the target directory will
be
Info-Channel-2.  Users registered for email alerts will have their
existing
subscription automatically transferred to the new combine Operations
Weekly
Schedule.

FSD.
GOES11_135W eclipse from 09/02/09 to 28/04/09: 09:00 UTC and 10:00 UTC
files
may not be available.
GOES12_75W eclipse from 14/02/09 to 28/04/09: 05:00 UTC and 06:00 UTC
files
may not be available.

Metop-A.
EPS
27/04/2009 ASCAT Gain compression. Interruptions may occur at:
09:20 orbit 13080

01/05/2009 IASI External Calibration activities are foreseen between 05:12
and 09:10.
Earth views may not be available during this period.

30/04/2009: Upgrade of ASCAT Level 2 Soil Moisture processor to version
1.3.0.
Note that this release corrects the incidence angle-dependent bias for the
data
corresponding to the near left swath (see for reference
http://oiswww.eumetsat.org/UNS/webapps/showData.do?index=4&type=21
where the problem was reported).

EARS
Tues 28/05/09 - Fri 01/05/09 ASCAT L2: high risk period due to
maintenance.

PAST EVENTS
From 21 April 2009, the GRAS-SAF started to disseminate Near-Real-Time
refractivity
products through EUMETCast. The first available product, the GRM-01 is
generated for
every occultation in BUFR format. EUMETCast requirements:
Channel "SAF-Europe" (PID 500, multicast address 224.223.222.28:3011).
The filenames start with "S-GRM_-GRAS_RO_L12" with full details in the
Product User
Manual, see: http://garf.grassaf.org/

For further information the on the GRAS-SAF products see:
http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/Media/Features/710267


The following EPS GDS products are available on Eumetcast.

EPS-2    PID 510    Metop AMSA          operational
EPS-3    PID 510    Metop ASCAT        operational
EPS-4    PID 510    Metop ATOVS        operational
EPS-5    PID 510    Metop GOME          operational
EPS-6    PID 510    Metop GRAS           operational
EPS-7    PID 510    Metop HIRS             operational
EPS-8    PID 510    Metop MHS             operational
EPS-10  PID 510    Metop AVHRR        operational
EPS-11  PID 510    Metop IASI              operational
EPS-13  PID 510    NOAA AMSA          operational
EPS-14  PID 510    NOAA ATOVS        operational
EPS-15  PID 510    NOAA GAC            operational
EPS-16  PID 510    NOAA HIRS           operational
EPS-17  PID 510    NOAA MHS            operational
EPS-18  PID 510    EPS Service News   operational


NOTES.

1.  Reports for all sections  should be sent to :-
     Douglas Deans   dsdeans@tiscali.co.uk

2.  For further information on the Eumetcast service see :-
    David Taylor's web site
    http://www.satsignal.eu  =>  Weather Satellites, Using EUMETCast
                                               or Satellite Tools, MSG
Data
                                               Manager.
or  the Eumetsat web site
    www.eumetsat.int

GENERAL
=======
For further weather satellite related information join GEO, Group for
Earth
Observation, and receive the informative quarterly magazine.  See :-
http://www.geo-web.org.uk/

To download element sets for all satellites visit the following sites :
http://www.space-track.org     and
http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/

=====================
 
73's - Adrian, G4ROA @ GB7COV

Message timed: 19:03 on 27 Apr 2009
Message sent using WinPack V6.70 (R)
(Prog written by Roger Barker, G4IDE/G8MZX, Silent Key 09/09/04)

	Member of: 
 AMSAT, RSGB, GEO & RAYNET
     QTH Loc - IO92gj
      NGR SP 342 765
      GPS  52deg 23.15min N
          001deg 29.83min W
  E-Mail: G4ROA@AOL.com


Read previous mail | Read next mail


 22.03.2026 03:17:59lGo back Go up