Japan image database for utilization

Using the NOAA-HRPT data received at Tohoku University, a satellite image database for researchers is called the Tohoku Image Database (TIDAS). TIDAS is open for the public, and can be accessed via the Internet. The albedo and brightness temperatures processed from the AVHRR channel 2 and channel 4 are geocoded. This database starts from April 1990. The area is Tohoku on the east side of Japan. From 1996, the database includes the west side of Japan called the Japan Image Database (JAIDAS) to the present. The image data are 1024×1024 pixel for every channel data (Ch1 - Ch5) as the original. And also GIF files are presented as 1/4 size images in the catalog. The output images from the database are on the increase. In 1994 there were 7,834, in 1996 42,776, in 1998 74,241 and in 2000 219,740 images. We counted over 520,000 in only a half period of 2001. The results mean requests for environmental studies and education. We developed JAIDAS into the Tohoku University NOAA Image Database for more contributions to Earth environmental studies.