Context for the South Water Caye buoy site

[taken from an email by Jim Hendee dated July 9, 2015.]

Carrie Bow Caye, south of South Water, is site of the long-standing Smithsonian Lab.

Click on map to see a larger version.

Condition of mooring lines

[taken from an email by John Halas (EMI, Inc) dated July 3, 2015.]

I am still trying to get some detailed feedback from the individuals at Calabash and South Water Caye on the condition of the mooring lines. I did hear from James  Azueta that he talked to the individual at SW Caye and he said that the ropes needed to be replaced. I am now trying to determine if the complete back up system is still there and available and the "extra" 1" nylon rope is still there and available.

What is known about the South Water buoy problems

[taken from an email by Albert Jones (CCCCC) dated June 16, 2015.]

What I know about the failure at Southwater was that on return of the Met Canister from YSI, no communication was possible with the Met Logger, once the guys at Fisheries reinstalled it. It could be cable connection failure or the CR1000 logger itself. So at present, I can see the main logger sending only diagnostic data, but no sensor data meteorological or water quality. Because their laptop with the relevant software has failed, no further troubleshooting has been done and it was decided to let the experts look at it.

Buoy still on land, evaluation visit planned

[this post is back-dated to the time of the email messages from which it was assembled]

In the spring of 2015, evaluation and reprogramming of the Calabash Caye equipment had begun at AOML.  The next logical step was to plan a trip to Calabash Caye in order to reinstall the electronics and sensors and prepare it for deployment.  Meanwhile, there was no change in status of the second buoy at South Water Caye, which was known to be on land as of this message from Albert Jones (CCCCC) dated March 24, 2015:

The South Water Caye buoy is still at the dock at the resort and can be easily accessed. That assessment by Mike J can be arranged on his trip to Belize.

Later on, a message from Albert Jones dated April 24, 2015 contained the following:

I would want to suggest that an extra day be set aside to have a quick look at the South Water Caye Buoy. It can be arranged as a one day visit to have Mike do his own analysis on what will be needed to resurrect that station.

As of the summer and autumn of 2015 this is indeed the plan, that Mike Jankulak and Mike Shoemaker will travel to Calabash Caye to install that buoy and prepare it for deployment but while in Belize we will visit South Water Caye for one day on a fact-finding mission.

On Shore, Awaiting Reinstallation

[taken from an email by Jon Fajans (C-ARMS contractor) dated August 19, 2014.]

South Water was on shore awaiting the reinstallation of the MET housing.  It is back in Belize at 5C’s.  I will check on the status of that operation.

Modem fix, Met Canister failure

[taken from an email by Matt Previte (Xylem/YSI) dated April 23, 2014.]

Jon and Albert updated the modem at Southwater Caye in Belize.  Had some initial trouble, but the buoy is now allowing us to call-in.  The bad news is that the met canister was flawed at this site and was allowing moisture to get inside.  They are shipping that back to us for evaluation/repair, so I imagine it will be a couple of months before they get that reinstalled.  So you can connect to the buoy but there is no met or water quality data.

Buoy Photo

[taken from an email by Jim Hendee dated September 23, 2013]

Attached is a picture of the second Belize buoy, at South Water Caye, just north of Carrie Bow Caye where the Smithsonian Lab is.

Click on photo to see a larger version.