The aim of my dissertation research is to understand the dispersion characteristics of the flow around the Hawaiian Islands and describe how mesoscale circulation patterns influence the distribution of early life stages, and thus, survival of marine organisms. I will quantify the relative level of early life stage retention and transport within and off the Hawaiian Islands, identify which oceanographic features are more likely to drive retention or transport and if the patterns observed demonstrate any seasonal variability. I will use hydrodynamic fields from a three-dimensional model that simulates currents surrounding the Hawaiian Archipelago to characterize the flow properties in the region. Also, I will incorporate this velocity field into a biological model simulating fish larval development, behavior, and dispersal.
Education
Publications
Moller, O. O., Castello, J. P. & Vaz. A. C. The Effect of River Discharge and Winds on the Interannual Variability of the Pink Shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis Production in Patos Lagoon. Accepted. Estuaries and Coasts
Vaz, A. C., Parada, C., Palma, E., Muelbert, J. H. & Campos, E. J. D. 2007. Modeling transport and retention of Engraulis anchoita Hubbs & Marini, 1935 (Clupeiformes, Engraulidae) early life stages along the Southwestern Atlantic continental shelf. Pan-American Journal of Aquatic Sciences, 2(2): 179-190. Download pdf
Vaz, A. C., Moller Jr., O. O. & Almeida, T. L. 2006. Analise quantitativa da descarga dos rios afluentes da Lagoa dos Patos. Atlantica, 28(1):13-23. Download pdf
Vaz. A. C. 2005. Modelagem do transporte e retencao larval da anchoita Engraulis anchoita na plataforma continental do Atlantico Sudoeste. Master Thesis, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Download pdf
Contact
Ana Carolina Vaz
Department of Oceanography
University of Hawaii
Marine
Science Building
1000 Pope Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Email:
vaz(at)hawaii.edu