Table 2 Earth-observation-relevant information systems connected to the IDN 
  
  
Acronym Title 
f access | Dall CNES-SPOT IMAGE Catalogue 
Earth Observation Center, Japan 
EOC 
ESA EARTH IMAGES ESA Earthnet online catalogue (formerly LEDA) 
ccess GISS Goddard Institute for Space Studies 
IRPS Image Retrieval and Processing System 
NCDC National Climatic Data Center : 
NSE NSF Science and Technology Information System 
OCEANIC Ocean Network Information Center 
RESTEC Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan 
SDCS SAR Data Catalog System 
SMRSS Surveys, Mapping and Remote Sensing Sector 
UA - GEODATA CENTER 
URI AVHRR ARCHIVE 
um 
University of Alaska Fairbanks/GeoData Center 
University of Rhode Island AVHRR Archive 
  
datasets such as whether there are data available for a 
particular location and/or time period. Systems which 
have dataset “granule” information are classified as 
"inventories". Some information systems have 
Shipe. Janis L. and P. A. Bailey, 1993. Quick Reference 
Guide to the Master Directory-2 Alphanumeric 
Interface, NSSDC. 
bit 
combinations of directory, guide, and/or inventory 
capabilities. They may also allow the user to browse and The U.S. Global Change Data and Information System 
st below) manipulate the data. Program Plan, 1992. Report of the National 
Table 2 is a list of some of the Earth-observation-relevant 
data systems which have connections through the 
directory and may be helpful to a researcher in the Earth 
sciences. Further information about these systems can be 
obtained by accessing their descriptions or connecting to 
them through the network. Some of these systems may 
Academy of Sciences Committee on Earth and 
Environmental Sciences. 
The U.S. Global Change Data and Information System 
Implementation Plan, 1994. Report of the National 
Academy of Sciences Committee on Earth and 
Environmental Sciences, in press. 
be available through Gopher, World-Wide Web. etc. as 
| well, but Table 2 lists those which have links through the 
[DN nodes. 
| 4. CONCLUSIONS 
In conclusion, the GCDIS, the IDN and interconnected 
information systems are services available now. Many 
types of improvements are planned and will be advertised 
when they are available. Feedback is needed to prioritize 
the types of improvements which should be made. Please 
try the systems and let us know how their utility can be 
improved. 
There is also interest in adding to the information 
| contained in these systems. If you have data which 
would be useful to the community that you would like to 
advertise, please contact the authors. If you are aware of 
Gopher servers or other network accessible systems 
which should be interconnected or at least advertised 
through the existing systems, again, contact the authors. 
À world-wide cooperative effort is not difficult with the 
new technology capabilities. 
REFERENCES 
Directory Interchange Format Manual, 1993. Version 4.1. 
NSSDC Publication 93-20. 
| Shipe, Janis L., 1993. Users’ Guide to the Master 
Directory-2 Alphanumeric Interface, NSSDC. 
239