Characteristics of light backscattering by seawater and lidar sounding of water column

A theoretical approach for the problem of lidar signal formation is developed which accounts for the anisotropy of light scattering in the back hemisphere. The results explain the shape of observed return signal anomalies in airborne lidar experiments. An interpretation is proposed for the effect of signal `retardation' (i.e. the time delay between maxima of pulse of sea-water response and surface-reflected pulse), as well as for the anomalously high level of lidar signals from within distinct layers of sea water.