Abstract:
Hurricanes have struck North Carolina for centuries, destroying lives, property, and the environment. However, it is only recently that scientists seek to understand a hurricane's ecological effect. For example, Hurricane Floyd's flood washed human and natural contaminants into the Pamlico Sound; the sound's salinity also decreased 50 percent, and the chlorophyll level elevated. Scientists are studying these and other effects to learn what it means for the future of the sound and those who depend on it.