The Great Smoky Mountains landform is mostly sedimentary rocks that were formed by the accumulation of sand, clay, silt, sand, gravel, and minor amounts of calcium carbonate in flat-lying layers. According to The Great Smoky Mountain’s website, about 545 million years ago the sediments were formed and large amounts of those sediments were washed down into lowland basins from adjacent highlands. The colliding between the edge of the North American tectonic plate and the African tectonic was a huge cause of the creation of The Great Smoky Mountain landform. It was discovered that incredibly long and active geologic events were found in the rocks of the smoky mountains. There was a specific …show more content…
As the African tectonic plate GRADUALLY pushed the edge of the tectonic plate and the original horizontal layers of the rocks went folded or bent by the faults. Large amounts of older, buried rocks were pushed northwestward, up and over younger rocks along a large nearly flat lying thrust fault, know now as the great smoky fault. After the natural process of the Appalachian mountain building the supercontinent of Pangea broke apart and the North American and African tectonic plates GRADUALLY moved to their present position. The mountains the currents ones suffered a process of an intense erosion from ice, wind, and water. It was so big that TREMENDOUS amounts of eroded sediments were transported toward the Atlantic Ocean Gulf of Mexico by rivers and streams. Some sediments formed the Gulf of Mexico beaches. As the mountains worn down, the layers of rock most resistant to erosion were left to form the highest peaks in The Great Smoky Mountains, such as waterfalls. Today, geologists’ estimate that the …show more content…
The winter starts as moderate, but with an increase in elevation, the weather does get cold. According to Smoky Mountains Navigator, “It is not unusual to have warm temperatures in the low elevations and snow in the higher areas.” The temperature can reach the 70s and snows an inch about 5 times a year. In the higher mountains, the snow is more common, up to two feet accumulates during a storm. Unfortunately, due to problems with air pollution and smog buildup, the threat of climate change has become an important issue for this national park. Studies show that the temperature in Tennessee has increased by almost 1 degree Fahrenheit and precipitation by 10%. In the air, there are particles of sulfur dioxide and ozone that are the main culprits of making the skies very foggy and hazy. An increase in temperature could worsen the smog and make it harder for viewers to see the mountains peaks. The climate changes can affect the region of Great Smoky Mountains. Unfortunately, due to problems with air pollution and smog buildup, the threat of climate change has become an important issue for this national park. Studies show that the temperature in Tennessee has increased by almost 1 degree Fahrenheit and precipitation by 10%. In the air, there are particles of sulfur dioxide and ozone that are the main culprits of making the skies very foggy and hazy. An increase in temperature could worsen the smog and make it