Determination of the sea depth using the light pulse location technique

Abstract

Through analysis of the regularities in the signal-to-noise ratio variation we have determined the maximum depths of bottom location using the method of laser sounding, depending on the bottom albedo, the optical properties of the sea-water layer, the characteristics of the radiation source and detector, the magnitude of all types of noise, dark-current noise, Schottky noise, the noise of a light pulse propagation channel, and background noise. Simple formulae have been derived for technological calculations, optimization, and assessment of the efficiency of specific sounding systems.