Principal limitations for maximal depth in lidar sounding of the ocean

Some results of analysis of various effects determining the maximal penetration depth in airborne lidar bathymetry and hydrooptical characteristics remote sensing are presented. The used approach is based on Sakett´s discriminability criterion. For two limiting cases (A-“night” conditions, unperturbed sea surface and negligible system instability, and B-“bright-day” conditions, rough sea, and considerable system instability), single formulae are given which makes it possible to give quantitative estimates for penetration depth depending on lidar system characteristics, such as receiver aperture diameter, laser power, spectral selector bandpath width, etc. The effects of laser pulse “tail” and “after-pulsing” effect of PMT are discussed. The predicted values of maximal depth to be achieved by the new generation of airborne lidar bathymetric systems are presented