Temperate Deciduous Forests
A temperate deciduous forest is a forest biome that occurs in temperate areas where annual precipitation ranges from 75 cm to 126 cm. They are located in the eastern half of the United States, mid-Europe, Canada, and parts of China, Russia, and Japan. On a regional level in the United States, temperate deciduous forests can be found along the Appalachian Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Temperate deciduous forests have four changing seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. They have hot summers and cold winters, and the leaves change as the seasons change. Deciduous plants and trees are those that lose their leaves during the fall.
Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains are located in Southeastern United States and are considered a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, stretching from North Carolina to Tennessee. It is remarkably diverse and encompasses over 500,000 acres of land.The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established on June 15, 1934 and is now the most visited national park in the United States, with over 9 million visitors in 2011 alone. It is also an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site, which means that it is one of the most significant areas towards humanity in the world. Since the creation of the national park, the Smokies' natural beauty has been preserved for future generations to appreciate.
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| http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmcam/images/grsm_webcam_map.jpg |
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| Autumn |
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| Winter |
Historical Background
The Great Smoky Mountains had human inhabitants for hundred of years before the first white settlers came in the late 1700's. At that time, the area was dominated by the Cherokee Indians. The Cherokees discouraged settlers but eventually assimilated to the English ways. Peace prevailed until the discovery of gold in Cherokee lands. Andrew Jackson then forcibly removed over 13,000 Cherokees from the mountains, aptly entitled "The Trail of Tears", and settlers began to move into the mountains. Logging began slowly, as the early pioneers used timber for building homes and making fires. It was during the mid-19th century that logging turned into an opportunity to make money. As technology improved, tree removal equipment became accessible and more than 300,000 acres had been clear-cut by the mid-1920's. It wasn't until the 1934 creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that logging ceased to a stop.
http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/parks/great-smoky-mountains/
Human Impact
The National Park Service is doing an excellent job towards improving air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains. The ecosystem is slowly but steadily improving and the numerous efforts towards progress is a large help. While it may seem as if everything is under control, it is still essential that people continue to make a conscious effort every day to help the environment as a whole. By conserving energy and saving water, as well as lessening the burning of fossil fuels, the environment will continue to improve.
Human Impact
The biggest human threat to the Great Smoky Mountains prior to the establishment of the national park was logging. Currently, however, air pollution is a major concern, damaging plant and animal life in the Smokies. Pollution from factories, automobiles, and industry are trapped within the mountains because of the way the mountains are naturally structured. The burning of fossil fuels and poor pollution control are the main reasons for the degrading of the natural beauty of the mountains. Scenic views from the Smokies are shrinking and visibility in the summer has decreased 80% while visibility in the winter has decreased 40%. Ozone pollution is another problem. Ground level ozone is when nitrogen oxides mix with hydrocarbons. This is a large threat to human life because it causes coughing and chest pains. It is also harmful towards plants and leaf damage has been reported in over 30 species of plants exposed to the ozone pollution. High levels of nitrogen and sulfur in the air result in higher elevations of streams and soils, which can negatively impact fish populations. The nitrogen and sulfur pollutants are also deposited as acid rain, which acidifies the soil and water. This mars plant growth and the water in some streams are no longer considered "clean" enough for drinking.
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| http://www.epa.gov/visibility/parks/grsm_t.html |
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| http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/Pubs/pdf/gpra/AQ_Trends_In_Parks_2009_Final_Web.pdf Non-Human Impact
Non-human impact on the Smoky Mountains include pests and diseases. Oaks and hickory trees typically dominate the forests. Chestnuts were also dominant in the area. However,they were almost eliminated by "chestnut blight" that began in the early 1900's, a fungal disease that affects stems and branches of any size and quickly spreads throughout the whole tree and kills it. Almost four billion chestnuts died by 1930. Another large threat to the ecosystem is the balsam woolly adelgid. This insect attacks Fraser fir trees and they die within five years of infection.
Chestnut Blight
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15aHBwEgcRi9Co_ZmpB15b7VE5-RrCAKsaMi_4-nSc9_nrd7fFduIqkcoAsTYK3GfPwU6jGp0mhwQnrOuBVuoh4nJVWvznBdPlftLJhmikgrwmLQzkmiGZL868DNBo_qtkFt-m3ZOI8Ia/s400/ChestnutBlight.jpg
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Current Measures to Improve the Smokies
The National Park Service is well aware of the issues negatively impacting the Great Smoky Mountains. In order to prevent and lessen air pollution, they enacted new regulations and air quality control stations. They specifically monitor the nitrogen and sulfur deposition, ozone, and mercury, and they further analyze the impact that each would have on the environment of the Smokies. The NPS (National Park Service) is also working towards preventing future harmful legislations in the area surrounding the mountains.
http://www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/dff11-lysimeter.htm
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| As shown in the image above, air quality monitoring stations have been established throughout the Smokies. http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/permits/aris/networks/aphnLG.cfm |
The Future of the Great Smoky Mountains
The National Park Service is doing an excellent job towards improving air quality in the Great Smoky Mountains. The ecosystem is slowly but steadily improving and the numerous efforts towards progress is a large help. While it may seem as if everything is under control, it is still essential that people continue to make a conscious effort every day to help the environment as a whole. By conserving energy and saving water, as well as lessening the burning of fossil fuels, the environment will continue to improve.
