Abstract

Environmental conditions make in situ measurements of the optical properties of the Arctic Ocean difficult. Remote, rapid sensing of the optical properties of sea ice is possible from under ice ROVs (remotely operated vehicles). The application of lidar techniques requires modeling of both the lidar system and sea ice. We present progress in developing such a model, which includes the time-dependent backscattered signal incorporating multiple scattering effects via a Monte Carlo technique. The sea ice optical properties are based on recent experimental and theoretical results for the scattering phase functions of the different layers in sea ice. In addition we have included the effect of layers of biota (phytoplankton) recently found to live in and under the ice during parts of the year. The Monte Carlo technique is tested against exact results of a Markov formulation we have developed for beam spread and pulse spread in a uniform medium.

© 1986 Optical Society of America