The Cape Cod National Seashore, created by John F. Kennedy on August 7, 1961, is over 43,500 acres of beaches, ponds, woods, bike trails, and salt marshes from Chatham to Provincetown, Massachusetts. The area is also historical as it contains sites associated with the Pilgrims. It is protected by the US National Park Service.
What is the Cape Cod National Seashore?
Some of the salt marshes in the Cape Cod National Seashore are in danger of being degraded from tidal blockage and the rising sea level could degrade the beautiful sandy beaches. Remote sensing of the Cape Cod National Seashore is very important because it helps to monitor the area and assess any changes that may occur. For instance, using LiDAR to map the coastal elevations in preparations for rising sea level forecasted in the future decades, or high resolution satellites, such as SPOT, to monitor the invasive vegetation infecting salt marshes. It is important to protect the Cape Cod National Seashore because it is home to many different species of plants and animals and it also acts as another order of protection to inland structures during storms.
Why is remote sensing of the Cape Cod National Seashore important?
Image 2 is a map showing the extent of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Click on the image to enlarge it.
Image 1 is the sign for the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Image 3 is a view of Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, MA. The Cape Cod National Seashore is home to some beautiful beaches.