International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project

In July 2008, the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP), the first project of the World Climate Research Programme marked its 25th Anniversary. To celebrate this occasion, to take stock of research progress and discuss plans for the future, a Symposium was held at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (the Global Processing Center for ISCCP) on 23-25 July 2008. More information.

Cloud cover, its vertical distribution and optical properties, affects the total amount of solar radiation received at the Earth's surface, and thus, plays a key role in the Earth's water and energy cycles. Using infrared and visible data obtained from polar and geostationary meteorological satellites, ISCCP produces data sets of global cloud cover and cloud radiative properties. ISCCP has the following objectives:

• Produce research quality improved infrared and visible radiance data sets, along with basic information on the radiative properties of the atmosphere, from which cloud parameters can be derived; and
• Improve understanding of the Earth's radiation budget (top-of-the atmosphere and surface) and hydrological cycle.

Since 1983 ISCCP has processed visible and infrared images from polar and geostationary satellites to produce monthly 2.5 degree data sets of global cloud cover and radiative properties. Global monthly cloud products at 280-km resolution, 72 variables, 3-hour intervals, derived from polar orbiting and geostationary meteorological satellites for the period of July 1983 to June 1994 are available on 9-track/1600-6250 bpi tape, IBM 3480 cartridges, CD-ROM or via the web.