Full Title: The Late Quaternary Construction of Cape Cod, Massachusetts: A Reconsideration of the W.M. Davis Model
Authors: Elazar Uchupi, G.S. Giese, D.G. Aubrey, and D.J. Kim
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Data from geologic and geophysical studies of Cape Cod and southeast coastal Massachusetts were used to reconstruct the geologic history of the region and to compare this construction with that proposed by W.M. Davis in 1986. The authors support Davis's contention that Cape Cod was formed by glacial deposition during late Pleistocene and marine and eolian processes since. However, their geologic reconstruction of Cape Cod varies from that of Davis: they believe that the glacial lower Cape extended east of its present shore nearly double Davis's estimate and that it took more than twice the time Davis estimated to attain its present form. Davis also inferred that all detritus eroded on the east side was transported northward to create the Provincetown Hook, whereas the authors propose that prior to 9,500 years ago this material was transported southward to fill a depression at the Cape's elbow; it was only during the last 6,500 years that the material was transported northward to form the hook. This work also suggests that historical changes in Cape Cod are not limited to natural processes as Davis suggested, but that past and present human activities, such as construction of harbors and the Cape Cod Canal, dredging of channels and mooring areas, devegetation, mining, timber harvesting, clearing of land for agriculture and unrestricted grazing, played a significant role in creating the present morphology of Cape Cod.
Published: 5/17/1996
ISBN Number: 0813723094
Pages: 69
Product Category: Special Papers