3, Climate . 



The area has a moderately temperate maritime climate (Engels, 1952) . 

 Climatic data were collected at Hatteras, which is more under the 

 influence o£ the Gulf Stream than the Duck area. These data represent 

 maxima, but differences are probably not significant. 



At Hatteras, the normal mean temperature during the 6 consecutive 

 hottest weeks of summer is 78.6° Fahrenheit, The coldest month, January, 

 has a mean temperature of 45,7° Fahrenheit, while July, the warmest, has 

 a mean of 77.9° Fahrenheit. The average daily temperature range is 

 greatest in March, 12.9° Fahrenheit, and least in August, 9.2° Fahrenheit, 



The absolute maximiim temperature recorded was 102° Fahrenheit, in 

 June, and the minimum, 8° Fahrenheit, in December. The average date of 

 earliest killing frost is December 13. February 27 is the latest date 

 of killing frost (Burk, 1968). The mean annual percent of sunshine, 

 54 percent, is typical for the southeastern states. The mean annual 

 humidity, 81.4 percent, is higher than any other continental station in 

 the United States with the exception of Puget Sound. Monthly differences 

 in humidity vary no more than 5 percent. 



Mean annual precipitation is 62.76 inches, with July (6.06), August 

 (5.98) and September (6,06) having the most. Periods of drought are rare. 



The average annual maximum wind velocity, 13,3 miles per hour, is 

 relatively high, with average maximum velocities greatest from December 

 through April. The prevailing winds are northerly in the winter and 

 southwesterly in the summer. 



4, History . 



The first permanent English community on the Outer Banks was 

 established in 1664 (Stick, 1958). Soon after settlement, cattle, 

 horses, hogs, and sheep were turned free to graze. Around 1773 settlers 

 were reportedly converting Currituck Banks to stock range and attempting 

 to prevent the Indians from hunting there. Grazing continued, to some 

 extent, into the 1900' s. Guild (1947) reported finding pigs feeding on 

 mole crabs in the surf near False Cape; recent observations have con- 

 firmed that a viable "wild" hog population still exists. 



The vegetation and topography of this region were drastically 

 changed after settlement, Stratton (1943) reported that grass and 

 shrubs were uprooted by hogs, and forests were cut for fuel, building, 

 and ship construction. Once vegetation was disrupted, the sandy soils 

 became susceptible to wind and storm tides. The blowouts and sand dunes 

 seen today behind the foredune are the results of these forces. Blowouts 

 almost reach the water table and dunes rise to over 100 feet just north 

 and south of the Duck Field Research Facility. Unstable dunes migrate 

 southwesterly across the banks, toward the sound, burying everything 

 in their paths. 



