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Kansas Forest Service Launches Plan to Preserve $1.3B Industry


Each time Bob Atchison sees kids playing in a park, a family having a picnic, or an American bald eagle building a nest in a tall Kansas cottonwood, he tends to get more passionate about his job.
6/17/2013 8:00:00 AM

WHAT IS A MONSOON?... Play Audio


Summer thunderstorms are often described as monsoons because of the heavy rain associated with the storms. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the comparison is to the conditions that are common in Asian monsoons. However, “monsoon” is actually a seasonal wind pattern.

6/14/2013 7:00:00 PM

THE LARGEST HAILSTONE... Play Audio


In Kansas, severe thunderstorms often include hail. Sometimes that hail can be enormous. State climatologist Mary Knapp looks at some of the largest hailstones ever recorded, including one documented in Coffeyville and another in Wichita.

6/14/2013 7:00:00 PM

ONE “HAIL” OF A STORM... Play Audio


A thunderstorm that struck Selden, Kansas in 1959 demonstrates how hail can sometimes be confused with snow. State climatologist Mary Knapp says the confusion occurs because hail is sometimes recorded as frozen precipitation.

6/14/2013 7:00:00 PM

Stop, Look and Listen Play Audio


K-State's Gus van der Hoeven presents Stop, Look and Listen...his weekly commentary on rural Kansas.

6/11/2013 7:00:00 PM

Surveying Farm Ponds Play Audio


K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee covers the best methods for taking inventory of the fish residing in your farm pond(s).

6/10/2013 7:00:00 PM

Trees: One of the Best Resources in Kansas Play Audio


K-State rural forestry coordinator Bob Atchison talks about the numerous ways that value is manifested in Kansas' tree resources.

6/10/2013 7:00:00 PM

DON’T RISK A TRAGEDY... Play Audio


Even in the shade, with temperatures only in the 80’s, the temperature inside a vehicle can quickly exceed 100 degrees. As a result, state climatologist Mary Knapp says leaving people and pets in a vehicle – even for a short time – can have tragic consequences.

6/6/2013 7:00:00 PM

State climatologist Mary Knapp... Play Audio


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

6/6/2013 7:00:00 PM

THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE... Play Audio


The earth’s gravity traps a gaseous shell or “atmosphere” around the planet. According to state climatologist Mary Knapp, one of the most variable components and the most interesting from a meteorological standpoint is water vapor.

6/6/2013 7:00:00 PM

HURRICANES IN KANSAS?... Play Audio


You probably won’t ever see a hurricane warning issued for Kansas, but state climatologist Mary Knapp says the state has experienced some of the remnants of a hurricane. The result was two days of heavy rain in southeastern Kansas.

6/6/2013 7:00:00 PM

Attend Walnut Council Field Day to Learn about Black Walnut


Black walnut is the most commercially valuable tree in Kansas. Since 1981, black walnut volume has increased by 95 percent, providing significant income to Kansas landowners who recognize its value, according to Bob Atchison, rural forestry coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service. The rich chocolate-colored wood of this fast-growing shade-intolerant tree is highly valued worldwide for veneer, furniture, cabinets and guns stocks. The nuts are also in high demand for use in cookies and candies and the shells are used for abrasives.
6/3/2013 8:00:00 AM

TORNADO OUTBREAKS... Play Audio


There have been a number of devastating tornado outbreaks this spring. State climatologist Mary Knapp recalls several tornado outbreaks that occurred in different years, but on the same date – June 8th – resulting in multiple deaths, injuries and damage.

5/30/2013 7:00:00 PM

CAPPED INVERSION... Play Audio


A capped inversion is a layer of relatively warm air aloft, usually several thousand feet above the surface. Rising air is relatively cooler than this layer, limiting its ability to continue to rise. State climatologist Mary Knapp says this can slow or prevent the development of thunderstorms.

5/30/2013 7:00:00 PM

IS IT SUMMER YET?... Play Audio


According to the calendar, summer begins June 21st. However, if you ask several people when summer begins, you’ll probably get several different answers. State climatologist Mary Knapp says that’s because people associate the start of summer with other events.

5/30/2013 7:00:00 PM

State climatologist Mary Knapp... Play Audio


Following a stormy week, state climatologist Mary Knapp, director of the Weather Data Library at K-State, covers the Kansas agricultural weather scene.

5/30/2013 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

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

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

State climatologist Mary Knapp... Play Audio


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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