Transient radiative transfer equation applied to oceanographic lidar

We estimate the optical signal for an oceanographic lidar from the one-dime nsional transient (time-dependent) radiative transfer equation using the di screte ordinates method. An oceanographic lidar directs a pulsed blue or gr een laser into the ocean and measures the time-dependent-backscattered ligh t. A large number of parameters affect the performance of such a system. He re the optical signal that is available to the receiver is calculated, rath er than the receiver output, to reduce the number of parameters. The effect s of albedo of a uniform water column are investigated. The effects of a sc hool of fish in the water are also investigated for various school depths, thicknesses, and densities. The attenuation of a lidar signal is found to b e greater than the diffuse attenuation coefficient Bt low albedo and close to it at higher albedo. The presence of fish in the water is found to have a significant effect on the signal at low to moderate albedo, but not at hi gh albedo.