The analytical model based on the quasi-single small-angle scattering approximation can efficiently simulate oceanic lidar signals with multiple scattering; thus, its accuracy is of particular interest to scientists. In this paper, the model is modified to include refraction at oblique incidence and is then compared with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and experimental results. Under different conditions, the results calculated by the analytical model demonstrate good agreement with the MC simulation and experimental data. The coefficient of determination R² considering the logarithm of signals and the root mean square of the relative difference δ are R² = 0.998 and δ = 10% in comparison with the semi-analytic MC simulation and R² = 0.952 and δ = 46% for the lidar experiment. Thus, the results demonstrate the validity of the analytical model in the simulation of oceanic lidar signals.

To overcome the retrieval problems in complex water, dual working wavelengths are required instead of a single wavelength in oceanic lidar. The wavelength optimization method of detecting chlorophyll a and Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) absorption coefficient with a dual-wavelength lidar is studied in this paper. The inversion methods of chlorophyll a and CDOM absorption are developed based on the water absorption characteristics, which then lead to the inversion error equations. The effects of the wavelength on the inversion errors are studied. For the case in which λ₁ and λ₂ are both random, the errors are relatively small when λ₁ is chosen between 420 and 560 nm and λ₂ is selected under 420 nm. For the case in which λ₁ is fixed at 532 nm, the errors generally decrease with decreasing λ₂, with minimums around 300 and 356–360 nm under different water conditions. The wavelength optimization method discussed in this paper and the penetration depth criterion will be beneficial to the design of the dual-wavelength lidar.