Winter in Cape Cod

Cape Cod extends over 50 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Its rugged coastline, dangerous sand bars and rip tides, and ever changing weather contribute to the challenging navigation of this region. Over the past 300 years, there have been more than 3000 shipwrecks on the Cape, mainly along the treacherous outer shore between Provincetown located at the "fist" of the Cape and Chatham located at the "elbow". Today seven lighthouses provide guidance to mariners.

This Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) image was acquired February 18, 2001, during Terra orbit 6237. Snow and thin clouds are present over the land and "puffy" cumulus clouds are over the ocean. The effects of the warm ocean water are evident in the lack of snow near the coast. Sediment transport along the coast is indicated by the green coloring.

Image credit: ASDC at NASA LaRC