From 1856 to 1940 the inlet was located at the south end of the harbor 

 near Nauset Heights. In 1941 the south spit grew northward and the inlet 

 shifted approximately 1.6 kilometers to the north (Zeigler, 1958). Between 

 October 1957 and April 1958, wave action reduced the tip of the south spit 

 from approximately 1,234 to 564 meters (Zeigler, 1958). By 1969, the south 

 spit was approximately 853 meters long, and the inlet was migrating northward. 



2. Climate . 



The Cape's proximity with the marine environment produces a moderate climate. 

 Precipitation occurs more than 90 days per year, averages about 100 centimeters, 

 and is evenly distributed throughout the year. During summer, average daily 

 maximum temperatures are below 26° Celsius. 



Wind records from Boston, about 100 kilometers to northwest of Nauset Beach, 

 and shipboard observations are summarized in Table 1. These records indicate 

 that mean annual windspeed on Cape Cod is probably from 20 to 25 kilometers 

 per hour. The Cape has a distinct seasonal wind pattern. Strongest winds occur 

 during the winter months, generally from the west to northwest. Winds are more 

 moderate during other seasons and generally prevail from the west and southwest. 



Table 1. Monthly mean windspeeds and prevailing 



directions, compiled from airport records 

 and shipboard observations . 



Month 



Mean winds 



peed (km/hr) 



Prevailing direction 



Airport 

 record 



Shipboard 

 obsns. 



Airport 

 record 



Shipboard 

 obsns . 



Jan. 



23.2 



33.9 



NW. 



NW. 



Feb. 



23.3 



30.3 



raw. 



W. 



Mar. 



23.2 



29.9 



NW. 



W. 



Apr. 



21.7 



24.1 



WNW. 



W. 



May 



20.1 



21.1 



SW. 



SW. 



June 



18.7 



19.8 



SW. 



SW, 



July 



18.0 



16.5 



SW. 



SW. 



Aug. 



18.0 



18.8 



SW. 



SW. 



Sept. 



18.5 



22.0 



SW. 



NE. 



Oct. 



19.8 



24.4 



SW. 



W. 



Nov. 



21.4 



28.0 



SW. 



W. 



Dec. 



22.5 



34.2 



WNW. 



NW. 



^Fifteen-year record, Logan International Airport, 

 Boston, Massachusetts (from Brodhead and Godfrey, 1977). 



^Observations recorded from 1963 to 1971, Quonset Point 

 Area 13 (U.S. Naval Weather Service Command, 1975). 



II 



