In situ Validation of the Source of Thin Layers Detected by NOAA Airborne Fish Lidar
Abstract
Our short-term objective is to evaluate the relative importance of large nonspheroid phytoplankton and zooplankton in generating the thin optical backscattering layers detected by the NOAA airborne fish lidar in a variety of coastal and oceanic environments. The existing system clearly has the capability of detecting thin layers and mapping their coherence and spatial extent in a wide variety of coastal and oceanic environments. The approach was to use a series of field experiments to evaluate the source of the thin layers of high backscattering detected by airborne fish lidar. We are particularly interested in determining the degree to which the cross polarization detector system (and other characteristics) of the airborne fish lidar make it sensitive to thin layers of large, nonspheroid phytoplankton and/or zooplankton, or other types of layered particulate material that are common in coastal waters. In designing these field experiments, we have tried to minimize costs while maximizing the chances of in situ verification/validation of the sources of thin layers that can be detected by the NOAA fish lidar. Given this, we designed a series of field experiments where we deploy the fish lidar from a small plane and use real-time analysis of lidar data to identify areas with thin backscattering layers that Dr. Donaghay and coworkers from the University of Rhode Island would sample with a small boat equipped with the in situ optical sensors and discrete sampling systems needed to verify and optically characterize the source of the observed lidar signals. Real-time analysis of the lidar data was facilitated by transmitting the lidar data to the surface in real time so that all of the information that would be available to an airborne operator is available to the scientists on the boat.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA598362
Entities
People
- James H Churnside
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration