Abstract: A method and application of flash imaging lidar to measure the attenuation coefficient of water bodies are provided. In this novel method, the real time remote measurements are achieved on the attenuation coefficient of fresh water using flash imaging lidar based on the adjacent frame difference (AFD) method and water body backscattering model. The method solves the problems of low accuracy and high error of data obtained from real-time remote sensing measurement of attenuation coefficients of water bodies in the prior art; the slow speed of measurement data obtained when measuring water bodies, and the poor feasibility and reliability effect of the remotely measured attenuation coefficients of water bodies obtained. The experimental and theoretical analyses fully illustrate the feasibility of real-time remote sensing measurement of the attenuation coefficient of water bodies using the AFD method, which has a strong practical value.