From Cape Cod to the Bay of Fundy: An Environmental Atlas of the Gulf of Maine

Winner in the category of Geography and Earth Science in the 1995 Professional/Scholarly Publishing Annual Awards Competition presented by the Association of American Publishers, Inc.


Images of the earth's surface have been around for years, but it is only recently that scientists have begun to take advantage of new data generated by the explosion of remote sensing equipment to address a variety of technical questions in many different fields. This Atlas presents breathtaking full-color images of the region to reveal and interpret environmental patterns and problems. The illustrations are interwoven with commentary on the area's ecology, geology, and oceanography, giving readers an understanding of the link between their own backyard and the interdependent set of systems that make up one of the most distinctive regions on earth.

The Gulf of Maine is an almost-enclosed sea bounded by an international watershed; shaped by volcanoes, glaciation, and other geologic forces; rich in marine resources; diverse in terrestrial systems; occupied by indigenous peoples for nearly 10,000 years; and now used intensively by fishermen, foresters, and tourists. A different aspect of this multi-faceted region is discussed in each chapter.

Yet it is the stunning satellite images and aerial photographs that set the Atlas apart. With pinpoint clarity, the images demonstrate how these increasingly powerful sensing tools may be utilized to view and interpret elements of the natural environment and ultimately, to help rectify problems. In the carefully coordinated narrative essays, authors from across the region address issues raised by the images, for example: how much clear cutting is going on and what its effects are on other parts of the ecosystem; how well marine fisheries are managing to prevent overfishing; the effect of pollutant loadings in nearshore estuaries; and how seaweeds contribute to the lobster harvest.

Philip W. Conkling is Executive Director of The Island Institute in Rockland, Maine.