Maycira Costa

Position

Professor

Remote sensing; coastal oceanography; wetlands; biogeophysical processes

Contact

Office: DTB B126

maycira@uvic.ca

250-721-7334

website

Credentials

PhD (Victoria)

Area of expertise

Remote sensing; coastal oceanography; wetlands; biogeophysical processes

Oi (means Hi in Brazilian Portuguese).

Our research group is working towards (1) developing research methods to make more effective use of remotely sensed imagery for understanding and monitoring biophysical processes in ocean waters and wetlands, and (2) researching light attenuation in coastal and riverine waters.

We have an interdisciplinary group of young researchers with expertise in oceanography, geography, biology, computer science, and environmental science. We are conducting interdisciplinary research with several international collaborators in Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Japan.

In my life, what I like the most is spending time with my boy, Nattan, my very young daughter, Maiara, and my husband, Kevin.

Research

I built a great lab - SPECTRAL - for investigating spectral characteristics of the Earth's surface. The first of its kind in Western Canada, the lab focuses on the interaction of light energy with organic and inorganic material in water.

The lab is equipped with a high-precision liquid chromatograph for analysing phytoplankton pigment, a set of hyperspectral radiometers for above and in-water measurements (Satlantic), a set of fluorescence, hyperspectral absorption and attenuation sensors (ac-S), and a darkroom for simulating controlled environmental conditions, and much more!

In my work, what I like most is field work! Most of my field work takes place in the BC coast and in Brazil, more specifically, in the Amazon and Pantanal. I have to admit that field work in Brazil is more pleasurable because of the warm temperatures (no need for survival suits!). However, BC waters are incredibly diverse (optically speaking), which makes our work very exciting.