Measuring 3D fluorescence spectra of phytoplankton using an ocean lidar

Abstract

In order to obtain the three dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectra directly and rapidly by in situ and in vivo phytoplankton monitoring, a prototype ocean lidar system with the ability of measuring 3D fluorescence spectra is developed, in which an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and a grating spectrometer are employed. Using the system, the 3D fluorescence spectra of five typical red-tide species in the East China Sea are measured in lab. The preliminary experimental results show the feasibility of monitoring and classifying phytoplankton by this ocean lidar.