Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Fifty years of detailed weather measurements earned the KU Atmospheric Sciences Program recognition from the National Weather Service.
On Monday, representatives from the Topeka office of the National Weather Service presented the Cooperative Observer Award for the University’s longevity in gathering temperature and rainfall data at the weather station near Lindley Hall.
Ken Harding, a meteorologist in charge of weather forecasting in Topeka, said the years of data collection at the weather station were valuable to the region’s climate averages.
“Long, unbroken data sets really get scientists excited,” he said.
The University’s weather station is among the 11,000 NWS stations in the U.S., 300 of which are in Kansas.
Donna Tucker, associate professor of geography, said the data would serve a number of practical purposes. She said information about the first and last days of the frost was useful for farmers and construction workers. Readings from the weather station could also be used in court to substantiate a witness’ testimony, she said.
Johannes Feddema, professor of geography, said long-term data from a variety of locations would help scientists chart climate trends. Data can be interpreted in many different ways, but he said current figures indicate a temperature increase of half a degree per decade during the last 30 years.
The weather station was one of the oldest of Kansas’ stations, Feddema said. It joined the NWS network in 1957, but has been taking measurements at the University for at least 80 years.
The station has two components. One is the 4-foot tall pole with a thermometer attached at the top that sits on the front lawn of Lindley Hall. The other is a rain gauge on the roof of Lindley Hall.
Private citizens can often receive awards for their contributions to weather data collection.
Bill Newman, data manager for the NWS, said one award recipient was a 103-year old man from Clifton, Kan., who recorded data at 7 a.m. every morning for decades.
In addition to the station at the University, a weather station at Kansas State University also received an award from the NWS for 50 years of service.
—Edited by Sasha Roe
Real life storm chasers
Students and professionals use skills and equipment to follow severe weather.
Parched future of the plains
A warming climate is adversely affecting animals native to Kansas and the ...
University geologists scout glaciers in Antarctica
Assistant professor of geology Leigh Stearns and graduate student Brandon Gillette are ...
Free: Global warming doesn’t depend on weather
Despite scientists across the world confirming and re-confirming data on climate change, ...
New exhibition highlights climate change
An art show displays photos and artifacts to explore the North and ...
What lies beneath
KU researchers are traveling to Antarctica to research a large mountain range ...
Research project helps scientists study Greenland
Audrey Fusco, graduate research assistant at the Center for Remote Sensing of ...
Thompson: Turning up the heat: Climate change ...
Thompson says Kansas temperatures will rise by 2100.
KU awarded funding for energy research
The University is working with other Kansas institutions on renewable energy projects.
Biodiversity Institute receives grant
The University of Kansas’ Biodiversity Institute accepted a $850,000 grant from Microsoft ...
KU Researchers Complete Glaciers’ Study
After gathering data on glaciers in Antarctica since November, KU researchers will ...
Oberthaler: How your rock collection could fix ...
KU meteorologists explain “La Niña’s” effect on ...
Cold Pacific Ocean temperatures are to blame for the dry and warm ...
Weather balloon launch successful
The balloon, launched by students from the Geohawk project, gathered hundreds of ...
Ice sheet research awarded $17.9 million
CreSIS received money to develop and continue polar ice research.
New climate change program integrates science with ...
The National Science Foundation funded the program, which is aimed at graduate ...
What its like
To go to Antarctica
Seminar addresses global warming
A professor of science from Maine addressed the many theories to put ...
Grant to further knowledge about science
Kansas and Oklahoma universities will team together to create “cybercommons” for the ...
All hail the queen
Folmsbee: Science Nobel Prizes overlooked
Scientists from around the world were honored with Nobel Prizes, but the ...
Grants fund Dyche Hall upgrades
Two awards will allow the Kansas Biodiversity Institute to make renovations to ...
Folmsbee: Science Nobel Prizes Overlooked
The American public loses interest in important Nobel Prize winners in science.
Better Know a Major: Atmospheric Science
Program gives opportunities in education, government and broadcasting.
Politically Correct: Should Kansans support climate change ...
Columnists debate whether Kansans should get involved with climate change legislation.
Panel to discuss world climate policy
A group of law school professors are composing a book on government ...
NSF awards six $30,000 doctoral fellowships
The new fellows will be participating in the C-CHANGE program focusing on ...
CO2 emissions may affect flowering plants
Professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Joy Ward and post doctoral researcher ...
In economic down times, University research booms
Even though federal funding is in short supply, it still manages to ...
Chasing Danger
Amateurs and professionals follow storms across Tornado Alley
Winter Storm Warning in effect for Douglas ...
A warning is in effect from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with ...
NASA scientist reveals sea level problem
Robert Bindchadler, NASA scientist, spoke Wednesday at the University of Kansas. He ...
Organizers recruit to show concern for coal ...
Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy expect the bill to be vetoed ...
Cohen: Of e-mails and tropical snowmen
Responding to global warming controversy.
Winter storm hits Lawrence
Two inches of snow accumulates in Lawrence as a result of the ...
Chancellor, KU professor visit White House
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and Associate Professor Joy Ward were guests at two ...
Barking up the evolution tree
Number of female meteorologists on the rise
This semester, more women are taking meteorology classes at the University. This ...
Photo exhibit features Kansas tornadoes
The gallery opens today at the Natural History Museum.
McNaughton: Proof of climate change clear, but ...
It should be common sense by now that climate change is occurring.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID