Laser remote sensing of aquatic environment: first- and second-order scattering model.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Oceanography and Aquatic Sciences
• Remote Sensing Technology

Background:

• Laser beam propagation in aquatic environments is crucial for remote sensing applications.
• Understanding light transport in shallow waters presents unique challenges due to boundary effects and varying turbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a model for laser beam transport in shallow waters.
• To assess the applicability of a second-order approximation for power and energy flux calculations.
• To propose an alternative remote sensing method for particulate material concentration.

Main Methods:

• Development of a simple physical model for laser beam transport.
• Calculation of first- and second-order power and energy flux.
• Evaluation of truncation errors to determine model applicability.
• Introduction of an effective beam attenuation coefficient for turbid waters.
• Simulations for various lidar geometries and aquatic conditions.

Main Results:

• The second-order approach is applicable for clear shallow waters.
• An effective beam attenuation coefficient accurately models turbid water conditions.
• Computations demonstrated the model's performance across diverse scenarios.
• Off-axis detection with airborne lidar shows promise for remote sensing.

Conclusions:

• The developed model provides a reliable method for analyzing laser beam propagation in shallow aquatic systems.
• The study offers a practical approach for characterizing water clarity and particulate matter using lidar technology.
• Off-axis detection presents a novel strategy for airborne remote sensing of aquatic particulate concentrations.