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Earth System Profile:

Earth System Profile:. North Carolina. Growth and Economic Development. NC ’ s population has grown more than 21 % between 1990 and 2000. NC ranks 11 th in population 8,300,000 people in NC Most growth is occurring along the coast and in the Piedmont. Economic Development.

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Earth System Profile:

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  1. Earth System Profile: North Carolina

  2. Growth and Economic Development • NC’s population has grown more than 21 % between 1990 and 2000. • NC ranks 11th in population • 8,300,000 people in NC • Most growth is occurring along the coast and in the Piedmont

  3. Economic Development • 60 % NC population lives in metropolitan areas (Charlotte) • Most job growth is in retail, banking, insurance, and real estate

  4. NC’s Largest Cities

  5. Population Growth • NC ranks high among desirable places to live and work • NC is a popular place to retire • Suburban growth destroys forests, meadows, and marshes to provide space for new homes, roads, and shopping centers.

  6. Land Features • NC has the largest range of altitude of any state east of the Mississippi River. • NC is divided into three regions • Coastal Plains – flat, marshes, swamps, and beaches • Piedmont – 90 to 190 meters above sea level and has rolling hills • Mountains – Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains are part of the Appalachian chain.

  7. Coastal Plains • Consist of sedimentary rocks • Largest portion of NC • Sediments are clay, sand, and limestone • Supports pine and oak woodlands • Most land is cleared for farming

  8. Fall Line and Piedmont • Fall line is a zone 48 km wide and is the boarder between the Piedmont and Coastal Plains • Piedmont: • hills dominate the area • 90 to 450 m above sea level • Greatest variety of rock types

  9. The Appalachian Mountains • 65 MY the Appalachian Mountains eroded to a low plain • 30 MY upwarping began to form the mountains

  10. Natural Resources • Forests • 1.2 million acres of National Forest divided into 4 major areas • Nantahala – largest area • 6.3 million people visit the parks every year • Forestry is the second largest industry • Assist landowners • Forest fire prevention • Insect and disease control • forestry planning • Seedling nurseries • Water quality

  11. Natural Resources • Fisheries • Some of NC’s waters are closed due to pollution and overfishing • Aquaculture – raising of fish in enclosed ponds has increased • Catfish in the coastal plains • Trout in the mountains

  12. Natural Resources • Mining • NC’s minerals are collected by mining • Dimension stone: extracted in large blocks for construction • Mitigation: laws that require mining companies to put twice the amount of land mined back in its natural state

  13. Ecosystems • Maritime Forest • Protected areas in NC are at Buxton’s Woods and Bald Head Island • Trees found: live oak, cedar, wax myrtle, yaupon holly • Longleaf Pine Savannah • Open grassy areas with longleaf pines (state tree) • Most have been cleared for farming

  14. Ecosystems • Tidal Salt Marsh • Pamlico Sound and Albemarle Sound • Spartina grass • Wide spread of life found in this area: crabs, oysters, clams, fish, and osprey • Spruce Fir Forest • Appalachian Mountains • Trees: red spruce, fraser fir, and yellow birch • Decreasing in size due to acid deposition and insects killing the fraser firs.

  15. Soils • Provide nutrients and water for plants • Entisol: type of soil found in the Piedmont that is sandy and loose which provides drainage for peach trees • 300 soil types in NC • Acidic and lacks nutrients • Leaching: water draws out the nutrients and carries it away

  16. Geological History • 500 to 600 MY the Appalachian’s didn’t exit • Plate tectonics allowed the land masses to move towards each other • 400 MY ago the land masses kept colliding together which formed our Piedmont today. • 300 MY ago Africa and North America collided to form Pangaea • 200 MY ago the plates split apart forming the Atlantic Ocean and our coast line

  17. Geological History • Sediments from the Piedmont and foothills were eroded and deposited in the coastal plain region • No major fault line is common in NC, but nearby faults have shaken NC

  18. Fresh Water • Surface waters: rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams • 18 major rivers in NC • Large aquifers to draw water in the Piedmont and Coastal Plains

  19. Fresh Water • Problems • Fertilizer and pesticides run off • Hog farms • Tanks leaking • Landfills leaking • Contaminants in the ground water supply

  20. Fresh Water • Groundwater Problems • Salination • Contaminants • Withdrawing too much water • Clean Water Act – protects the waterways from pollution

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