Quantitative analytical monitoring of aquatic and terrestrial targets with multi-wavelength FLS lidars

The paper overviews capabilities of a multi-wavelength laser remote sensing technique in real-time analytical monitoring of aquatic and terrestrial targets. The conceptual design of the Fluorescent Lidar Spectrometer (FLS) - a compact, multipurpose analytical lidar - is described. Its modular architecture allows efficient research and routine monitoring applications from small boats or aircraft. Depending on the application requirements, the FLS analytical performance can be optimized with features such as variable excitation wavelengths and high-speed, gated hyperspectral detection. The Spectral Fluorescent Signature (SFS) concept, which forms the background for the FLS functioning, has been successful in the detection and identification of trace organics in various environmental, industrial and other mixtures. FLS-lidars have been used in a variety of applications ranging from detecting chemical pollution in water and on soil to classifying marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) and mapping spatial distributions of phytoplankton in the Baltic, North and Norwegian seas. The presented field data obtained with shipborne and airborne FLS illustrate the approach's potential for real-time monitoring of marine, coastal and inland-water environments. Future developments are discussed.