Statistical Estimates of the Effect of the Sea Water Scattering Phase Function on the Characteristics of Airborne Hydrooptical Lidar Signals

The effect of the scattering phase functions of sea water types by the Petzold classification on the characteristics of signals of an airborne lidar is investigated using the Monte Carlo method. It is shown that for pure and coastal waters, the single scattering approximation is applicable for solving the laser sensing equation. Based on an analysis of the results obtained in a closed numerical experiment, a method of reconstruction of the lidar signal extinction coefficients by pure and coastal sea waters in the mixing water layer is proposed and substantiated. The results obtained expand the possibilities of lidar signal interpretation, especially in complex and ambiguous situations.