We describe the radiative transfer of a Gaussian beam in a water medium using the Monte Carlo method offering basic propagation behaviors. The simulation shows how the energy of the initial Gaussian beam is redistributed as it propagates in coastal water, and also depicts the dependence of the propagation behavior on inherent optical properties of the ocean water such as the single scattering albedo as well as on laser beam parameters, e.g. the M squared. Our results may widen the applicability of LIDARs by providing a couple of design considerations for a bathymetric LIDAR.

Keywords: Monte Carlo simulation, Gaussian beam, Numerical modeling,

OCIS codes: 010.5620; 010.0280; 280.3640; 280.4788