An airborne laser scanner configured to be arranged on an aircraft for surveying a target along a flight path. The airborne laser scanner comprises an emitter configured for emitting a plurality of consecutive laser pulses towards the ground surface, at least one optical element configured for deflecting the laser pulses along pulse paths towards the target, a motor configured for altering the pulse paths by moving the optical element, a receiver configured for receiving the laser pulses backscattered from the target, and a computer configured for controlling the emitter, the motor, and the receiver, for determining directions of the pulse paths, and for triggering the emitter to emit the laser pulses with a varying pulse spacing based on the directional component of the pulse paths in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a direction of the flight path.