A new approach is developed to investigate pulse propagation in random media, taking into account the effects of multiple scattering. The technique is based on the idea of temporal moments of the signal. It is shown that these temporal moments are related to the coefficients of expansion for the two-frequency mutual coherence function

in terms of the frequency separation. These coefficients, and therefore the moments, can be solved analytically in sequence without making assumptions about the strength of the turbulence. Using these moments, a least square orthogonal polynomial expansion procedure is developed to obtain the average intensity of the pulse as it propagates through the turbulence. It is also shown that the technique can be used for propagation through random media with discrete scatterers. An example is given to demonstrate the procedure.