NLDSAR - Cassini Non-Local Denoised SAR Dataset

The Cassini Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has been acquiring images of Titan's surface since October 2004. Radar data suffer from speckle noise hindering interpretation of small-scale features and comparison of reimaged regions for topography derivation and potential detection. By combining a state of the art denoising algorithm with mapping and quantitative measurements we greatly offer previously unattainable insights and introducing the denoising version of the Cassini SAR named NLDSAR.

The Cassini Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has been acquiring images of Titan's surface since October 2004. Radar data suffer from speckle noise hindering interpretation of small-scale features and comparison of reimaged regions for topography derivation and potential detection. By combining a state of the art denoising algorithm with mapping and quantitative measurements we greatly offer previously unattainable insights and introducing the denoising version of the Cassini SAR named NLDSAR.

Caltech Release [v1] is the very first (*alpha*) release that is now publicaly available with few rules of road described below. The data are corrected with incidence angle with the same emperical correction than the BIDR data set. Note that some swaths are badly navigated as reprojection has been performed since (e.g., Ta-T30,*reproc1*). Consequently, the dataset need to be used *very* wisely, therefore, any intend user of the NLDSAR data, may need to contact: Antoine Lucas (dralucas [~@~] geophysx.edu.eu.org) for further information;At least, you agree to cite the following paper in any communication (paper, conference, press release, outreach etc.):

Lucas et al., Insights into Titan's geology and hydrology based on enhanced image processing of Cassini RADAR data Journal of Geophys. Research, doi:10.1002/2013JE004584, 2014.

List of papers that have been based on the Caltech Release:
- Insights into Titan's geology and hydrology based on enhanced image processing of Cassini RADAR data A. Lucas, O. Aharonson, C-A. Deledalle, A. Hayes, R. Kirk, E. Howington-Kraus and the CRST Journal of Geophys. Research, doi:10.1002/2013JE004584, 2014

- Growth mechanisms and dune orientation on Titan A. Lucas, S. Rodriguez, C. Narteau, B. Charnay, T. Tokano, A. Garcia, M. Thiriet, S. Courrech du Pont, A. Hayes, R. Lorenz, O. Aharonson Geophys. Research Letters, doi:10.1002/2014GL060971, 2014

- Methane storms as a driver of Titan's dune orientation B. Charnay, E. Barth, S. Rafkin, C Narteau, S. Lebonnois, S. Rodriguez, S. Courrech du Pont, A. Lucas Nature Geoscience, doi:10.1038/ngeo2406, 2015

- Compositional and spatial variations in Titan dune and interdune regions from Cassini VIMS and RADAR L. E. Bonnefoy, A. G. Hayes, P. O. Hayne, M. J. Malaska, A. Le Gall, A. Solominodou, A. Lucas Icarus, doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.09.014, 2015

- Sand dune patterns on Titan controlled by long-term climate cycles RC Ewing, AG Hayes, A Lucas Nature Geoscience, doi:10.1038/ngeo2323, 2015