Examines the physical aspects of laser remote sensing and gives specific examples of airborne lidar systems and their practical application. Material is based on the authors' research in laser remote sensing of natural media, including the flight test data of airborne lidars developed by the scientists of the General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. There is also material on development of airborne lidars in other countries, including the US. Chapters cover general principles and applications of lidars, design and applications of hydrographic lidars, laser spectroscopy of photosynthesizing organisms in the ocean, and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy in water temperature measurement. The authors are affiliated with the Russian Academy of Sciences. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)