K-State Research and Extension News

Heading into the Memorial Day weekend, state climatologist Mary Knapp, director of the Weather Data Library at K-State, reports on Kansas agriculture weather.

5/23/2013 7:00:00 PM

HIGH INTENSITY RAINFALL... Play Audio

Generally, rainfall rates of half an inch per hour or greater are considered high intensity. But there are exceptions. For example, days where only a quarter of an inch of rainfall was recorded for the day, but there water was running in the streets. State climatologist Mary Knapp says that would qualify as high intensity if it occurred in a five minute downpour.

5/23/2013 7:00:00 PM

LOW AND HIGH PRESSURE... Play Audio

When forecasters talk about a low pressure or high pressure system, they’re referring to atmospheric pressure – the force exerted by the atmosphere over a particular point. It’s measured by various types of barometers and state climatologist Mary Knapp says what can make it confusing is that the pressure is reported as both station pressure and sea level pressure.

5/23/2013 7:00:00 PM

CONTINENTAL CLIMATE ZONE... Play Audio

Kansas is located in the Continental Climate Zone – which means the oceans and Great Lakes are so far away they have little tempering effect on our weather. As a result, state climatologist Mary Knapp says Kansas can be much hotter and colder than the coasts.

5/23/2013 7:00:00 PM

K-State Research and Extension Names Summer Interns

K-State Research and Extension has named 13 students as 2013 summer interns. The interns will assist extension professionals in planning and implementing educational programs for Kansas residents.
5/20/2013 8:00:00 AM

Field Day to Include Tree Planting, Riparian Area Management

Kansas landowners often have challenging decisions for managing woodlands, riparian areas and wildlife habitat on their property. The Kansas Forest Service, in conjunction with the Cottonwood River WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy), will host a field day on Thursday, June 6 in Florence, Kan. to address several aspects of tree planting and woodland management.
5/17/2013 8:00:00 AM

EXPECT A TORNADO!... Play Audio

Residents of a town in north central Kansas experienced a tornado on the same day for three consecutive years. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the tornadoes got stronger each year, causing more damage, injuries and eventually one fatality.

5/16/2013 7:00:00 PM

HEAT AND HUMIDITY... Play Audio

Kansans often joke that “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” But there’s actually a lot of truth to that statement. State climatologist Mary Knapp explains how the temperature and relative humidity are used to calculate the heat index.

5/16/2013 7:00:00 PM

STRANGE WIND FIELDS... Play Audio

Kansas City experienced one of its worst natural disasters in the spring of 1957. That’s when an F4 tornado moved through the suburbs, killing 44 and injuring more than 500. Following the tornado, state climatologist Mary Knapp says there was evidence of just how strange the wind fields can be during a tornado.

5/16/2013 7:00:00 PM

State climatologist Mary Knapp... Play Audio

State climatologist Mary Knapp, director of the Weather Data Library at K-State, covers this week's Kansas agricultural weather.

5/16/2013 7:00:00 PM

Careers in Agricultural Sciences, Plant Pathology Are Focus of June 12 Program in Manhattan

Undergraduate college and high school students are invited to attend a free program Wednesday, June 12 in Manhattan to learn about the array of career possibilities in plant pathology and agricultural sciences in general.
5/16/2013 8:00:00 AM

‘Preserving the Tallgrass Prairie’ Video Now Available Online

A 30-minute feature on preserving Kansas’ tallgrass prairie that recently aired on public television is now being offered through Kansas State University.
5/15/2013 8:00:00 AM

COMPARING PAST EVENTS... Play Audio

Determining if a weather event from today, such as a high temperature or a snowfall, is actually a record is more difficult than it sounds. State climatologist Mary Knapp says determining the significance of a weather event depends on the time period used for comparison.

5/9/2013 7:00:00 PM

SNOW IN THE SUMMER?... Play Audio

Historical weather data may indicate it snowed in Kansas during the summer. But state climatologist Mary Knapp says it has never snowed in Kansas during June, July and August. She explains why it may appear as if it snowed during those three months.

5/9/2013 7:00:00 PM

A MASSIVE DUST STORM... Play Audio

As the years pass, the magnitude of certain events become a distant memory. For many today, the Dust Bowl era may fall into that category. State climatologist Mary Knapp provides some insight into how much dirt was moved during that time period by detailing a single storm.

5/9/2013 7:00:00 PM

State climatologist Mary Knapp... Play Audio

State climatologist Mary Knapp, director of the Weather Data Library at K-State, reports on Kansas agricultural weather.

5/9/2013 7:00:00 PM

Deforestation Will Impact Kansans for Many Years to Come

High crop prices are great for the Kansas economy, but the conversion of trees along streams and rivers into cropland will cost everyone in the long run. Removing riparian forests, forestland adjacent to streams and rivers, negatively affects water quality and quantity.
5/9/2013 8:00:00 AM

Eastern Kansas Grazing School Planned Sept. 11-12

Rotational grazing is one way in which cattle producers can use rangeland and forages as efficiently as possible. That’s among the topics to be discussed at the third annual Eastern Kansas Grazing School planned for Sept. 11-12 in Ottawa, Kan.
5/7/2013 8:00:00 AM

THE TRUTH ABOUT MAMMATUS... Play Audio

Mammatus is the hanging protuberances or pouches on the undersides of clouds. Mammatus are often considered to be a sign that severe weather would soon follow. But is that fact or just an old wives’ tale? State climatologist Mary Knapp provides the answer.

5/2/2013 7:00:00 PM

State climatologist Mary Knapp... Play Audio

State climatologist Mary Knapp, director of the Weather Data Library at K-State, goes back over the out-of-the ordinary week in Kansas agricultural weather, and looks ahead to next week's forecast.

5/2/2013 7:00:00 PM

“30-30 RULE” HAS EXCEPTIONS... Play Audio

The National Weather Service devised the “30-30 rule” to help people determine when to seek shelter from a storm. State climatologist Mary Knapp explains how the “30-30 rule” works and points out some exceptions to the rule that require seeking immediate shelter.

5/2/2013 7:00:00 PM

AN ACTIVE TORNADO MONTH... Play Audio

May averages more tornadoes in Kansas than any other month. These tornadoes can result in widespread damage, injuries and deaths. State climatologist Mary Knapp recalls a massive F5 tornado that struck Kansas in 1927 and destroyed nearly 100 farmsteads.

5/2/2013 7:00:00 PM

WHAT IS MEANT BY “TRAINING”?... Play Audio

The word “training” is sometimes used to describe storms. But what does it mean? State climatologist Mary Knapp says training refers to storms that rebuild and move along the same path, often producing heavy rain.

4/25/2013 7:00:00 PM

DETERMINING TORNADO ALLEY... Play Audio

Tornado Alley is a term that identifies the area of the United States where tornadoes are most frequent. However, defining the boundaries of that area can get heated. State climatologist Mary Knapp says that’s because there are several ways tornado activity can be measured.

4/25/2013 7:00:00 PM

State climatologist Mary Knapp... Play Audio

State climatologist Mary Knapp, director of the Weather Data Library at K-State, reports on the Kansas agricultural weather scene.

4/25/2013 7:00:00 PM

LIGHTNING AND BELLS DON’T MIX... Play Audio

There are many folk remedies for protecting people and buildings from lightning. However, state climatologist Mary Knapp says to forget the folk remedies and concentrate on the modern safety rules if you want to avoid getting struck by lightning.

4/25/2013 7:00:00 PM

KARL Training Ends on High Point in More Ways than One

A month after reaching the Andean mountaintop village of Patabamba, Peru at 15,000 feet and Machu Picchu at 8,000 feet – a class of 30 agriculture leaders hit another milestone – graduation.
4/25/2013 8:00:00 AM

Webinar Set for Lesser Prairie Chicken Discussion

The potential listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as a threatened or endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is on the minds of many landowners in Kansas and a cause of concern for land managers.
4/19/2013 8:00:00 AM

PROTECTING AGAINST TOO MUCH SUN... Play Audio

It’s been a spring mostly absent of days that felt like summer. However, state climatologist Mary Knapp reminds us of the damage overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet or UV radiation can cause, including sunburn, skin cancer and cataracts. She discusses the precautions we can take to protect ourselves from overexposure to the sun.

4/18/2013 7:00:00 PM

UNUSUAL SPRING SNOWFALL TOTALS... Play Audio

Recent heavy snows in Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota made national news with snowfall totals of up to 18 inches. However, state climatologist Mary Knapp says the worst spring storm to hit the west occurred in 1958 and it was measured in feet.

4/18/2013 7:00:00 PM