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Title:	Shoreline changes along the outer shore of Cape Cod from Long Point to Monomoy Point
Authors:	United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. New England Division. Gatto, Lawrence W.
Keywords:	Aerial photography Erosion Accumulation Images Bathymetry Satellites (Artificial) Beaches Shores Shorelines Massachusetts
Publisher:	Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	CRREL report ; 78-17.
Description:	CRREL Report Abstract: This investigation utilized historical and recent aerial photographs and satellite imagery in 1) estimating changes in positions of the high-water line and sea cliff break and base, in rates of accretion and/or erosion, and in volumes of transported sediment, and 2) providing a preliminary evaluation of the direction of littoral transport along the outer Cape Cod coast. Using aerial photographs acquired in 1938, 1952, 1971 and 1974 with manual photointerpretation techniques, changes in the distances from selected reference points to the cliff break, cliff base and the high-water line were measured. LANDSAT-1 and -2 imagery acquired from 1 September 1972 to 28 May 1975 was evaluated for use in determining the directions of littoral transport that are active the predominant amount of time. Although the imagery has been very useful for this purpose at other locations, it proved to be useless along the outer shore of Cape Cod. Largest net migrations of the high water line from 1938 to 1974 occurred in the northern and southern portions of this coast. The northern maximum high water line was 321.4 ft, the southern was 1794.6 ft. The central portion of the coast was generally more stable with changes varying from 6.8 to 157.6 ft. Cliff-base recession rates varied from 0.4 to 7.3 ft/yr. Maximum estimated net volume of sediment deposited per linear foot of beach from 1938 to 1974 was 334 yd^3 (based on 2 yd^3/ft of recession or accretion); maximum eroded was 914 yd^3. Changes in the configuration of spits were used to evaluate directions of littoral transport since suspended sediment concentrations were generally not sufficient to act as natural tracers of surface currents. Based on the literature and a determination of the portion of the coast perpendicular to the direction of dominant wave approach, the location of the nodal zone for predominant littoral directions of drift probably shifts between the area near Spectacle Pond and North Truro Air Force Station. This investigation has illustrated a photo interpretation technique that is useful in performing a reconnaissance of coastal change. The data obtained from this method can be used to supplement those acquired by ground surveys and are valid as first approximations for planning subsequent, more detailed surveys.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/9394
Appears in Collections:	CRREL Report