About the Coastal Plains

About The Coastal Plains

North Carolina’s Coastal Plains experience a lot of precipitation, evaporation and warm temperatures year round because of the mix of geographical features such as wetlands, marsh and the beach shores. During January the average temperatures are around 40 degrees fahrenheit while during August the average temperatures are around 90 degrees fahrenheit.

The Coastal Plains have important geographic features such as low sloping land, wetlands, swamps, sandhills and the outer bank barrier islands. These characteristics allow for an ocean breeze and the Gulf Stream to increase precipitation by ocean evaporation and condensation with the help of winds and wetlands and swamps holding water for an extended amount of time.

Learn More About the Plains: Biogeochemical Cycles

Nitrogen Cycle

Discover how nitrogen cycles through the ecosystems of the NC Coastal Plains.

Phosphorus Cycle

Study the path phosphorous takes around the ecosystems of the NC Coastal Plains.

Hydrological Cycle

Get informed about how water makes its away around the NC Coastal Plains.

Carbon Cycle

Be informed on how carbon travels through the ecosystems of the NC Coastal Plains.

The dominant vegetation communities in the Coastal Plains are pine and hardwood forests, salt tolerant plants and a variety of grasses. Hardwood swamp forests are made up of oak, elm, birch, sycamore and ash trees while Swamp forest usually contain a mix of cypress trees. NC coastal marshes are home to cattail, needlerush, bulrush, cordgrass and saw grass. The dunes of North Carolina are populated by beach pea, croton, dune elder, perennial grasses and primrose.