Geoscientists specializing in the field of geohydrology, which studies the movement of underground water in the extensive cave systems that underlie much of the Yucatan Peninsula, met in Merida, Yucatan on March 31 through April 3. The meeting was focused on studies of the Salt Water Intrusion and Coastal Aquifers II, SWICA II, for short. The organizers of the meeting were Dr. Luis Marin of UNAM, Mexico's premier university, Dr. Eugene Perry of Southern Illinois University and Dr. William Ward, retired from the University of New Orleans.

CEA Director Dr. Charles Shaw, a geologist, attended the conference, which was sponsored jointly by nine organizations, including CEA. About one hundred specialists in salt-water intrusion of aquifers met for three days of dark rooms, PowerPoint presentations and hallway discussion. Dr. Shaw visited with scientists who come regularly to Akumal for research and met a number of other leaders in this field who carry out their studies in other parts of the world, from Great Britain to Japan.

After the meetings, a group of 40 left for Celestun on the west coast of the Peninsula, where Dr. Eugene Perry of Southern Illinois University led the group on a boat trip up the Celestun estuary where groundwater discharge into the estuary was observed along with a large flock of flamingos. Following the day at Celestun, fifteen members of the group continued on to Akumal where Dr. Shaw took them to study Yal Ku Lagoon.

At the lagoon, the scientists were able to observe the layered structure of the lagoon water. They could both see and swim through the halocline, the contact zone where the two layers meet. The halocline separates brackish water (50% sea water) at the surface from 100% sea water about six feet below. Mixing of these layers causes an oily appearance in the water which clouds visibility.

In the evening the group enjoyed a Mayan Buffet Dinner, the justifiably famous feast at La Ecocina, better known as Imelda's Good Food, located in front of the CEA Center on the patio.

The next day the group went to the enormous quarry at Calica, located just south of Playa del Carmen and close to Xcaret, where they examined the vast exposures of limestone in the walls and Dr. Ron Stoessel of the University of New Orleans guided us to a large cenote in the jungle next to the quarry. The size of the quarry is overwhelming, over two miles long by a mile wide and 100 feet deep, half of that below the water table.

CEA has been host to several scientific meetings this past year and we are happy to add SWICA to the list.

Charles Shaw, PhD
Director, CEA