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.
