By Valerie Sousa   Fall 2005

An Overview:
The purpose of this GIS project was to develop a model and series of maps that would symbolize the changes in the position of the coastline and offshore islands of the state of Maine since the end of the last glaciation.  Specifically, this project was designed to address the question of how quickly changes in the position and distribution of the coast and coastal islands took place, and whether or not there had existed in the past a time period of 1,000 years or greater during which the coastline and assemblage of islands had stayed relatively stable, with little change occurring from sea level rise or fall.

It is my hope that the final project product will drive the map viewer to think critically about modern human perceptions of time and space, and how society tends to think of modern geology as being a permanent and fixed quality of the landscape.  By displaying rapid changes in the coastal landscape for this region, I hope to generate thoughts on the reality of geologic change as related to patterns in the climate and, specific to the needs of my client, what the resulting scenario may be for coastal biological communities.

Map Summary:
The map is laid out with four data frames to display the extent of the coastline and the position of coastal Maine islands at the following intervals: 13 thousand years ago, 12 thousand years ago, 11 thousand years ago, and 10 - 8 thousand years ago.  The last is given a range rather than a definite date because it represents a nearly 2,000 year long period of relative stability along Maine…trade;s coast with little change in the coastline or island assemblage.  In this format, the viewer can compare the rapid changes that occurred prior to that time with a fairly stable period that is graspable in terms of human history.

Double-Click Image to Open PDF map. (pdf - 406k)

GIS Lab Contact:
Gordon Longsworth, glongsworth@coa.edu, 207-288-2944, extension 277