Table 2-11. Average Occurence of Thunderstorms at Nine Weather Stations in or 

 Near the coastal Zone. 



Station name 



Eastport 



Woodland 



Machias 



Ellsworth 



Bangor 



Rockland 



Augusta 



Lewiston 



Portland 



Period of record 



1931- 

 1931- 

 194 0- 

 1942- 

 1953- 

 1940- 

 1944- 

 1941- 

 1940 



■1960 

 •1960 

 ■1970 

 ■1972 

 -1970 

 -1970 

 -1970 

 -1970 

 -1976 



Average number of 

 storms/y ear 



14 

 14 

 15 

 16 

 17 

 13 

 18 

 17 

 18 



'U.S. Department of Commerce, irregular . 



The geological elements that influence the activity, distribution, and 

 abundance of plant and animal populations include bedrock formation and 

 surficial and marine geological processes. Geological factors dictate the 

 chemical and physical properties of surface soil, which affects the vegetative 

 composition and the distribution of populations in the area and presents 

 opportunities and limitations to human culture. The response of geological 

 elements to both natural and artificial forces, such as dredging, sea wall 

 construction, dam construction, and filling, may be the initiation of 

 sedimentation and erosion, which changes the physical substrate and affects 

 the water column. Bedrock geology, glacial geology, sea level changes, 

 erosion, sedimentation, surficial geology, and hydrology are discussed below 

 as they apply to the Maine coast. Information on the geological 

 characteristics of each of the systems, including the formation and 

 composition of the systems and classes can be found in the appropriate systems 

 chapters (4 through 10) . A specific discussion on the availability of 

 geological information for each region can be found in appendix D. Marine 

 geology and unique geological features of coastal Maine are detailed on atlas 

 map 3. 



2-36 



