Design and validation of a shipborne multiple-field-of-view lidar for upper ocean remote sensing

Abstract The oceanic lidar, which has the advantage of profiling the properties of the upper ocean, is a promising active remote sensing tool for complementing the passive ocean color remote sensing in the three-dimensional observation of ocean. This paper introduces the design and validation of a shipborne multiple-field-of-view (MFOV) lidar. With the input of simultaneous in situ data, the lidar signals and the retrieved lidar attenuation coefficient α are validated quantitatively using simulation results. The simulation methods include quasi-single-scattering lidar equation, Monte Carlo (MC) method, and analytical model. The experimental lidar signals are consistent with the simulated lidar signals with coefficient of determination R2>0.91, and α retrieved from experimental lidar signals corresponds well with the simulated values with root mean square (RMS) of relative error δ