Abiotic Factors
rocksA large majority of Acadia National Park is granite rock. Granite serves as very solid bedrock that allows for the high mountain build-ups. The granite which covers most of Acadia has been classified as a "pink coarse-grained hornblende granite", the rest of the granite is "minor biotite (which composes Cadillac mountain) and fine grained biotite".
On Mount Desert and Isle au Haut Gabbro-diorite bedrock is found meeting the granite. On these islands various forms of sandstone, and sedimentary rocks are found. Some of the sedimentary rocks were found to have volcanic components. The coast of Acadia National Park is composed of very rocky ridges, which border valleys. Much of the park’s topography was determined by glaciers that created a very asymmetrical and varying landscape. (33) |
Weather /ClimateAcadia national park experiences four distinct seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Spring is mostly foggy in Acadia National Park with a temperature range of 30-70 degrees F. During this season the plants begin to regrow their leaves and the mammals that hibernated begin to emerge as the birds migrate back. During the summer the temperature ranges from 45-90 degrees F. The Ocean water ranges from 50-60 degrees F, while lake temperatures are slightly warmer ranging from 55-70 degrees F. The fall has a temperature range of 30-70 degrees F. During this season the leaves on tress go from a green to either red or an orange yellow depending on the type of tree. Near the end of the fall the leaves begin to lose their leaves and the mammals enter hibernation while the birds migrate. During the coldest month winter the temperature can range from 14-35 degrees F during. The season of winter the leaves are without trees and the fallen trees cover the ground. In Acadia it is common to see snow fall in the later months of winter. (30)
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WaterWater in Acadia National Park has a "low alkalinity and low nutrient concentrations". Sodium (Na) and Chloride (Cl) are the most common ions found in the water in Acadia National Park. The conductivity of the lakes in Acadia national park is 44 µS/cm that is significantly higher than the average lakes 22 µS/cm. This slightly higher conductivity is attributed to the lakes heightened ion concentration of Na and Cl. (30)
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SoilThe soil of Acadia national park was recently classified as having a "shallow-to-bedrock". Acadia National park has significant areas of exposed bedrock and some think soil atop the bedrock and few areas of thicker soil. In the valleys of Acadia the soil reaches significantly deeper than on the coast areas with depths of up to 90 ft. until bedrock. The shallow soil allows for an increased runoff which attributers to a higher concentration of hydrogen ions that increase the toxicity of the soil. This has an overall negative effect on the plant life in the highest elevations of the park. The soil in the valleys however has a very low toxicity and features more favorable environments for plants. (31)
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