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Satellite laser altimeter can not only accurately measure the surface elevation of target, but also carry characters of target surface on its return waveform. The return signals interacted by coastal zones and transmitted signal are simulated in this paper, large number of return signal waveforms of Geoscience Laser Altimeter System are analyzed, and the change rules of return signal waveforms of coastal zones relative to sea surface are concluded, which are peak decreasing, pulse width widening, and mostly bimodal pattern. It is concluded that extracting coastline and locating the deserted island are feasible with this method of analyzing return waveforms of laser altimeter.