Vol. 17, issue 12, article # 3

Abstract:

Within the framework of small-angle approximation of the radiative transfer theory, a new equation is derived for the power of lidar return taking into account multiple scattering at small angles and anisotropic single scattering at large angles. It is shown that the solution of the problem can be reduced to calculation of medium irradiance with the preserved complete information about the scattering phase function in the small-angle region and near the backward direction. The technique proposed is used to assess the domain of applicability of the approximation of isotropic backscattering phase function in the problem of airborne sensing of seawaters.