Marine Science Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2017
Keywords
ocean optics; lidar; underwater glider; ocean remote sensing
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9040379
Abstract
The optical backscattering from particles in the ocean is an important quantity that has been measured by remote sensing techniques and in situ instruments. In this paper, we compare estimates of this quantity from airborne lidar with those from an in situ instrument on an underwater glider. Both of these technologies allow much denser sampling of backscatter profiles than traditional ship surveys. We found a moderate correlation (R = 0.28, p < 10−5), with differences that are partially explained by spatial and temporal sampling mismatches, variability in particle composition, and lidar retrieval errors. The data suggest that there are two different regimes with different scattering properties. For backscattering coefficients below about 0.001 m−1, the lidar values were generally greater than the glider values. For larger values, the lidar was generally lower than the glider. Overall, the results are promising and suggest that airborne lidar and gliders provide comparable and complementary information on optical particulate backscattering.
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Remote Sensing, v. 9, issue 4, art. 379
Scholar Commons Citation
Churnside, James H.; Marchbanks, Richard D.; Lembke, Chad; and Beckler, Jordon, "Optical Backscattering Measured by Airborne Lidar and Underwater Glider" (2017). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 478.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/478
