14

I'm looking for free (non-commercial use) sources of radar (SAR) satellite imagery. Does anyone know of sources?

Improve this question
4
  • 1
    I think this question would be more on-topic at the Open Data Stack Exchange but, in any event, it seems to be seeking a list of data sources which makes it too broad for the focussed Q&A described in the Tour.
    – PolyGeo ♦
    Nov 1, 2016 at 1:49
  • 1
    Two years passed. It's impossible to edit it, if the comprehensive answer was already given. So of course better to move. But given that the issue is popular, and the answer is VERY useful it is also questionable.
    – SysRq308
    Nov 1, 2016 at 21:06
  • Migration is only possible during the first 60 days. My comment above is more intended for anyone thinking to ask future questions seeking free data.
    – PolyGeo ♦
    Nov 1, 2016 at 21:28
  • 3
    doesn't look too broad to me
    – Rudolf Obescwitzer
    Dec 30, 2016 at 23:26

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
22
  • You can get Sentinel-1 data from scihub.esa. Requires only registration (And most likely, non-commercial use). As Sentinel-1 has just become operational the archive is not very extensive but should grow quite quickly.
  • You can set request data-access propospal on Alaska Satellite Facility. Some data open access. For ALOS-PALSAR you must be a resident of the United States to receive approval for data access.
  • You can get data from UNAVCO SAR data archive.
  • And you can get data from earth.esa.int. To access the data, you must provide a project. To preview scenes, use EOLi esa. ENVISAT ASAR the best option.
Improve this answer
1
  • for UNAVCO account is needed.
    – Learner
    Jan 14, 2015 at 8:40
6

Only managed to find a couple of sources for SAR images and data:

  • You can download SAR images from here which are mostly focused on ecological sites such as forests:

Example SAR image

  • You can download SAR samples from here which contain fairly large datasets (note: the last 4 links at the bottom of the SAR section are dead)
Improve this answer
5

Sentinel-1 data is published as Open Data, with attribution, see licence here. Registration required. An API is provided. See Scientific Data Hub for details. Software is also provided to process data.

Improve this answer
5

JAXA have made global L-band SAR mosaics at 25 m spatial resolution available from the PALSAR sensor:

http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/en/palsar_fnf/fnf_index.htm

Registration is required to download the data.

Improve this answer
3

Here's a fuller answer about the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data available from the Alaska Satellite Facility at no cost to users. The datasets include Seasat (1978 data newly processed in 2013), InSAR, PALSAR (including radiometrically terrain-corrected products), RADARSAT-1, ERS-1, ERS-2, JERS-1, UAVSAR, AirMOSS, AirSAR, and more.

SMAP data will become available in spring or summer 2015.

ASF's Get Started page, at https://www.asf.alaska.edu/get-data/get-started/, has a handy At-a-Glance Guide to Accessing Datasets.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Please see this help file for resolving your duplicate account issue: gis.stackexchange.com/help/merging-accounts Rather than editing the post to remove the content, in this case you should use the flag button instead. You'll be given a choice of reasons, can select other needs mod attention, and explain there. Then they can delete the answer for you. Or you can wait until the duplicate account is resolved and do so on your own.
    – Chris W
    Mar 11, 2015 at 0:01

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.