Dear IRC data users,

Please find below a message from the AKARI IRC team:

	We have recently been aware of problems in the NIR calibration.
	We are now working on fixing them. This message is to inform you
	about these caveats.
	
	1. Short exposure frames of the NIR data have a systematic
	gradient of +/- 5% in the Y-direction.  We have not yet identified
	the cause.  The absolute calibration has been made around the
	center of the field-of-view.  Thus there is an uncertainty of +/-5%.
	
	2. In addition to the above problem, the flat data of the NIR
	also have a systematic gradient of +/- 5%.  We believe that
	this problem originates from the flat data being contaminated
	by straylight.  We are preparing new flats.  Until they become
	available, please be aware of these systematic errors.
	
	It should be noted that the above results come from the data 
	taken during phase 2 (cold phase) at high ecliptic latitudes.
	We are investigating other cases.
	
Sincerely,

the AKARI helpdesk, 24 April 2009