Hyperspectral Fluorescence LIDAR Based on a Liquid Crystal Tunable Filter for Marine Environment Monitoring

Area of Science:

• Oceanography
• Environmental Science
• Remote Sensing Technology

Background:

• Marine environment monitoring requires advanced remote sensing tools.
• Accurate detection of fluorescence spectra is crucial for assessing water quality and biological activity.
• Existing technologies may lack the necessary spectral resolution or automation for comprehensive marine research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize an innovative hyperspectral LIDAR instrument for marine applications.
• To enable remote detection of fluorescence spectra between 400 nm and 720 nm.
• To assess the instrument's suitability for chlorophyll-a detection in remote marine environments.

Main Methods:

• Development of a custom hyperspectral LIDAR instrument.
• Integration of a photomultiplier charge integrating and measuring (CIM) unit with automatic background subtraction.
• Utilisation of a liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) for hyperspectral resolution.
• Deployment of custom software for automated instrument adaptation to environmental conditions.

Main Results:

• The developed instrument achieves hyperspectral resolution.
• The instrument incorporates automatic background signal subtraction.
• Laboratory tests confirm the sensor's capability for remote chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) detection.
• The instrument is compact, automated, and adaptable to varying environmental conditions.

Conclusions:

• The novel hyperspectral LIDAR instrument is a significant advancement for marine environment monitoring.
• The sensor's capabilities, including automated background subtraction and hyperspectral resolution, make it suitable for remote Chl-a detection.
• This technology offers a promising tool for in-situ measurements in challenging remote marine settings.