Skip to main content
Home

Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center

Main Menu

  • EROS Home
  • Image Gallery
  • Video Library
  • Earthshots
  • Remote Sensing Classroom

Earthshots

  • Earthshots
    • Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
      • Storms
      • Monomoy Island(s)
  • Download Cards
  • More Information
  • Contact Information
Earthshots Logo

Monomoy Island(s) A Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA story

Coasts  / 
Water
  1. Earthshots
  2. Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
  3. Monomoy Island(s)
Description

Monomoy is the southernmost barrier island in this system. It once consisted of North Monomoy Island and South Monomoy Island. Storms, high winds, tide, and surf endlessly change the island. The Landsat imagery shows South Beach Island migrating southward to join Monomoy, which is now considered one island. All of Monomoy Island (North and South) are designated as Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.

In the years since European settlers began making coastline maps, the changes to all of these islands and beaches have been observed in fairly predictable patterns. The dilemma now, with an increasing population, is to monitor how storms, flooding, and shoreline erosion affect property and both human and wildlife populations.

Play this animation to see the change in this area from 1984 to 2018.

View Related Imagery & Stories

Location

June 12, 1984, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

June 12, 1984, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 24, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 24, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 25, 1993, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 25, 1993, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

July 21, 2001, Landsat 7 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

July 21, 2001, Landsat 7 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 15, 2007, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 15, 2007, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 11, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 11, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 15, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 15, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Oct. 5, 2014, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Oct. 5, 2014, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 6, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 6, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 23, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 23, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 11, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Sep. 11, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 29, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 29, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 23, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Aug. 23, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

June 12, 1984, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Aug. 24, 1987, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Sep. 25, 1993, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
July 21, 2001, Landsat 7 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Aug. 15, 2007, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Sep. 11, 2011, Landsat 5 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Aug. 15, 2013, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Oct. 5, 2014, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Sep. 6, 2015, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Aug. 23, 2016, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Sep. 11, 2017, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Aug. 29, 2018, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Aug. 23, 2020, Landsat 8 (path/row 11/31) — Monomoy Island, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA Additional Imagery & Stories

Storms
Storms

Ocean currents, and the sediments they transport, have constantly shifted the Cape Cod barrier islands over time. Some of the abrupt changes, however,...

Read More
  • DOI Privacy Policy
  • Legal
  • Accessibility
  • Site Map
  • Contact USGS

  • U.S. Department of the Interior
  • DOI Inspector General
  • White House
  • E-gov
  • No Fear Act
  • FOIA