A maximum bathymetric depth model to simulate satellite photon-counting lidar performance

Abstract With the development of photon-counting sensors, spaceborne lidars have shown many advantages in mapping underwater topography. Although a space based lidar is normally profiling system, depth penetration and vertical accuracy achieved with bathymetric superior to imagery (that only provides relative depths). Therefore, satellite derived bathymetry products use both active/passive data achieve spatial coverage as well absolute measurements. Compared shipborne airborne systems, can global coverage, especially covering some remote areas where airborne/shipborne systems are hard or very expensive reach. In this paper, theoretical model proposed quantitatively analyze maximum lidar, which considers system parameters, environmental effects, constraint SNR (signal noise ratio). System parameters ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, land Elevation Satellite-2) MODIS (Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) datasets used provide systematic inputs model, actual verify estimated by model. six different sites water qualities, solar angles wind speeds, depths agree actually depths, terms MAE (mean error) 0.50 m RMSE (root mean square 0.60 m. The errors all study within 14% corresponding depths. Additionally, non-linear response independent parameter impacts on experimental process were analyzed. future, be evaluate investigation when applying parameters. addition, it optimize hardware its early design process.