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About Us


Welcome to the
Spectral Lab

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About Us


Welcome to the
Spectral Lab

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About Us

Located at the University of Victoria in the Geography department, our spectral and remote laboratory facility investigates multiple threads of research. By looking at the interaction of light energy with organic and inorganic material in ocean waters in the field and controlled lab environment, there is much we can discover. We have a collection of optical sensors including hyperspectral radiometers for continuous, above, and in-water measurements, fluorescence sensors for chlorophyll and CDOM, absorption, attenuation and backscattering hyperspectral sensors, CTDs, and a darkroom for simulating controlled environmental conditions. Current projects include accessing historical and modern records of kelp bed size and presence to study climate change; using satellite imagery to detect herring spawning; and collecting environmental data that may affect kelp growth and resilience.

Our group of researchers has expertise in oceanography, geography, biology, computer science, and environmental science.  We are conducting interdisciplinary research with several international collaborators in Brazil (INPA, INPE), Canada (IOS, MEOPAR, Ocean Networks Canada, Pacific Salmon Foundation, SFU, UBC, UVic), the United States (UC-Santa Barbara), and Japan (JAXA).  

Remote sensing technology is advancing at a much faster speed than our knowledge of how to interpret the spectral information it provides.

 
 

Latest news!

A spatial and temporal analysis of over 20 years of satellite imagery has revealed significant changes in the Subarctic Pacific, in the recent paper by Spectral Lab Postdoctoral Fellow Konik and Professor Costa, in collaboration with DFO, UBC, and researchers from Japan, Germany, and Italy, titled “Changes in Subarctic Pacific Phytoplankton Communities Over the Last Two Decades.” As is often the case, the details are crucial. A regional approach, combined with bioregionalization techniques, revealed that changes among primary producers are more complex than initially expected.

Konik, M., Hunt, B.P.V., Peña, M.A., Hirawake, T., Marchese, C., Vishnu, P.S., Bracher, A., Xi, H., Costa, M. (2025). Changes in subarctic Pacific phytoplankton communities over the last two decades. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1609094. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1609094


 
 
 

 
 
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Partners


Partnerships

Partners


Partnerships


News and Updates



October 2024

Research chair sets sights on marine ecosystems

Dr Maycira Costa has been named the BC Leadership Chair in Environmental Remote Sensing, with a goal to advance science and conservation management of marine ecosystems amid unprecedented environmental and natural resource changes.


May 2024

Canadian Space Agency 2024 National Forum on Earth Observation, Biodiversity Panel


June 2022

Celebrating World Oceans Day:

Experts on kelp forests available for World Oceans Day

Geography grad student Brian Timmer conducts field work in a bed of kelp near the Broughton Archipelago, on BC's central coast. Credit: Markus Thompson

Geography grad student Brian Timmer conducts field work in a bed of kelp near the Broughton Archipelago, on BC's central coast. Credit: Markus Thompson


March 2019

The Secret Lives of Salmon: International expedition returns to Vancouver

The Russian research vessel Kaganovsky returned to Vancouver on Monday with an unprecedented treasure trove of data about the little-studied lives of salmon in the open Pacific Ocean. Article here.

Spectral Lab PhD student Vishnu PS joins International Years of the Salmon Study.

Read more Here.


Photo: Pacific Salmon Foundation

Photo: Pacific Salmon Foundation


March 2019

Century-old maps are helping track B.C.'s kelp forests

Using British admiralty charts from 1858-1956, a research team from University of Victoria’ s Spectral lab has created digital map of coastal kelp. Read article here.

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June 2016

Deployment of the first autonomous radiometers in Canada

After a year of planning we have the first of it's kind autonomous solar tracking radiometers installed on a BC Ferries ship.  Click to learn more about the project.


February 2016

Spectral Lab Partners with MEOPAR and Irving Shipbuilding

The SPECTRAL Lab is excited to receive support for our research studying the changing marine environment of the Salish Sea. Congratulations also to the work of University of Victoria's Dr. Julia Baum and Dr. Randy Scharien.
Full article is available here.

Spectral Lab Twitter

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Projects


Explore our Research

Projects

Projects


Explore our Research

Projects