Those of us who live on or visit the N.C. coast know how special it is, but we’re also part of a larger region now recognized by an international environmental group as one of the most biologically diverse places on Earth.
The quality of the water, the nutrients in the soil and the exchange of greenhouse gasses hang in the balance as saltwater moves farther inland than it ever has before. Five researchers are working to help people prepare for what’s ahead.
Five researchers are investigating the future risks of saltwater intrusion on the Albemarle-Pamlico peninsula and how the area’s residents will play a role in conserving their natural resources.
Saltwater’s slow movement inland has accelerated in recent years. It kills trees, harms crops, destroys the very land itself. Its effects are particularly pronounced in the agricultural region between the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds.
The state’s coastal plain is dotted with mysterious depressions that were long thought to be created by meteor strikes. New research suggests much more earthly origins.
Scientists, in a field of study called paleotempestology, are searching the salt marshes behind barrier islands for signs of past hurricanes.
Winner of 14 North Carolina Press Association awards in 2016
