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.


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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.

Elivagar Flumina (20°N,80°W): No dependence of the denoising on geologic features is obtained. In addition, small features such as the bright channels are well preserved and highlighted by the application of the denoising procedure. Structures are detected inside the bright channel in the black box, which reminds braided patter. On Earth, braided rivers consist of a complex network of channels sperated by temporary bars. Such fluvial systems occur with either high slopes or large sediment load. They are also observed in peneplains.


Bathymetry maps of near-shore regions of Ligeia Mare from NLDSAR. Radar backscatter values were converted to apparent depth (i.e., depth/loss the tangent) using a two-layer model of radar energy penetration in the liquid [Hayes et al., 2010].

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