Erosion; A key component to life on the Cape

Abstract

When given the choice of doing a research paper on something dealing with nature, I knew there would be no better choice than the topic of erosion on Cape Cod. As a nineteen-year resident of Cape Cod, I have constantly heard people talk about the issue of erosion. Although erosion was not a major topic of debate during my grade school years, it quickly caught fire along with the issue of global warming during my four years of high school. Throughout my high school years I would often overhear conversations about erosion, but would never join in because of my lack of knowledge about the subject. Having knowledge of erosion is important to me because the erosion which eats away at the Cape Cod coast line will affect my life as long as I live in Falmouth.

Erosion is the condition in which the earth's surface is worn away by the action of water and wind. It occurs everywhere there is a coast line (dictionary.com). From the ocean to a small backyard pond to a river, it is present. While water and wind directly result in erosion, greenhouse warming is the major indirect force in producing erosion throughout the world.