10
Fridav, April 7, 1978
University Daily Kansan
Professor calculates tornado probabilities
By STEVERINKER
Staff Writer
Tornado season is approaching, and although charges are poor that Mount Oread would be struck by a twister, Joe Eaxleman does not consider it impossible.
"You could calculate the probability of a tornado striking the University of Kansas campus about once every 500 years," he said. "This is a real challenge of geography and space technology at KU."
Cyclonic activity has interested Eaglemann, since a tornado ravaged Topeka June 8, 1966. The tornado was the worst storm in the city's history, according to meteorological data.
"The Topeka tornado was the first storm in the nation to cause over $100 million damage," he said. "I began my studies then I moved on to another war, the damage and to interview victims."
However Eagleman has never been in a tornado.
"IVE DONE A LOT OF WORK with motion studies and have taken a lot of photographs of developing tornados. But he has seen very many real tornades," he said.
"The closest I have ever gotten to a tornado has been five miles." Eaglemann said, "and that occurred last spring southeast of Lawrence."
The professor also has succeeded in disproving certain myths about tornadoes. Best-known is his discovery that the best corner of a building is not the safest.
"Before my studies in Topeka,"
Eagleman said, "it was assumed the southwest corner was safest. However,
contrary to popular belief, the opposite
Slightly opening a window to equalize room pressure does not warrant the time or effort, according to Eagleman. An open window on the updraft side or southwest is more likely to cause more damage to the structure, he said.
corner to a tornado's approach is safest," he said.
Many of Eagleman's studies are conducted in wind tunnels at Learned Hall. He said most of his studies were conducted within the larger of two test chambers. The larger chamber can produce up to 200 mph winds.
"I have been working on generating a laboratory funnel on the basis of a paper just published in the Journal of Applied Meteorology." Eagleman said.
"A 24-inch fan will simulate the updraft in the thunderstorm and then with two 22-inch fans turned horizontally, the updraft will
blow the air up with horizontal winds produced by the two other fans simulating crosswinds. This will produce a vortex," he said.
Eagleman developed a three-dimensional diagram which depicts a tornado's birth from a thunderstorm. The diagram is nationally known and appeared in his first textbook, "Thunderstorms, Tornadoes and Building Damage."
HE IS ALSO RESEARCHING the possibilities of curbing tornadoes and other threatening weather. The procedure would be used if a storm's direct or indirect or switch a storm's direction.
Eagleman said his research would appear in a forthcoming meteorology textbook he is working on.
According to Eagleman, there are about 70 torndones in the United States annually.
Rabin protest . . .
From page one
The demonstrator, Ron Kuby, Lawrence junior, said, "I'm here to show solidarity with the Israeli people and to reflect a general American disgust with terrorists."
A SPOKESMAN for the Organization of Arab Students, Shawkat Mumheldh, said the demonstration was meant to educate the student body about the aggressive policies of the Israeli government and their "anti-peace" policies.
that they were not formal written complaints.
"The United States is the moral, financial and military supporter of the Israeli people," he said. "Americans should know about the genocide that is happening in Southern Lebanon where you get killed just for being a Palestinian."
One of the pro-Israel demonstrators night before the Israeli flag that he had maced the middle.
Reactions from students watching the demonstrations were mixed. Some were apathetic, some were puzzled, others were outspoken about their feelings.
Jeff Groger, Shawnee Mission sophomore, said that the University had given its support to the protests by allowing them.
THE PRO-ISRAEL demonstrators who had gathered spontaneously during the day were more organized as they gathered outside the auditorium last night.
"American involvement is imminent with
sit like that going on, and I'll be the first to
be drafted," he said, pointing to the anti-
Israel demonstrators.
The group of about 35 Israeli sympathizers were told by the police to remain on the east side of the flower bed in front of the building of about 150 Rabin protesters stayed on the west side.
Sporadic applause greeted Kuby's arrival at p15 with his flag. Later another flag appeared.
The tension built inside as different factions of the audience cheered, booed, applauded and stomped their feet while Rabin spoke.
Some members of the audience walked out during the speech because of the many
Most of the demonstrators went into the auditorium for Rabin's speech.
Janet Owens, Shawnee Mission sophomore, said "They've been protesting their cause all day and they have made their case that they have to give Rabin a chance to speak."
THAT TENSION SPIELLED out of the auditorium after the speech for a short while. Some of the demonstrators gathered in front of the building and shouted at each other. But the police had dispersed most of the demonstrators by 10:30 p.m.
Chancelor Archie R. Dykes said he had apologized to Rabin for the disturbances and praised the police for their handling of the situation.
"THEY ACTED WISELY and appurten-
ed to the said matter," the other
people told me, "that caused the disruptions. 1
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He said tornadoes were most prevalent during June.
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Kansas averages about 48 torndoes a year. Because of geographic reasons, Eaglemans said, more tornadoes occurred in western than eastern Kansas.
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thought things went reasonably well. We had expected some trouble."
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"I think the students who attempted to disrupt the speech did themselves a great disservice in the eyes of their fellow students," he said.
"If you mapped out the locations of tornadoes in Kansas, you find there are more
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"This is mainly because there are more people there to report sightings and information for the records. That does not mean cities naturally draw storms," he said.
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