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University Daily Kansan
Campus/Area
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1985
Wet cycle reigns over KU Rains inch toward record
By Bill Skeet Special to the Kansan
Lawrence — trapped in a 22-year wet cycle — is on its way toward its second highest amount of precipitation in 117 years.
Joe Eagleman, professor of meteorology, physics and astronomy, and Glen A. Marotz, professor of meteorology and geography, base their predictions on different theories, but both agree that the peak of the wet cycle that Kansas is now experiencing has yet to arrive.
According to data collected by Chris Wikle the official Lawrence weather; observer at the University of Kansas Weather Service, moisture in the Midwest has been considerably above average over past years.
The Lawrence area this year is 12.71 inches above normal precipitation. So far, about 51 inches of rain have accumulated. The wettest month was August during which 12.71 inches of rain fell in the Lawrence area above normal for that month.
But Lawrence may receive snow today. The National Weather Service in Topeka predicts a 50 percent chance of rain, possibly changing to
snow by night. Temperatures should dip to the 30s.
Tonight, skies should be clearing and temperatures should drop to 15 to 20. the weather service said.
Tomorrow should be mostly sunny but cold, and the high should be about 40. the weather service said.
As of yesterday afternoon, the precipitation for the year totaled 51.31 inches — 31 inches shy of 1915's total of 51.62 inches. In 1973, 60.89 inches fell, the highest amount on record.
Usually, such extreme precipitation amounts indicate a flood year. In 1951, when the Kansas River flooded and devastated low-lying areas in Lawrence, Kansas ended the year with 11.21 inches more than normal.
But this year has not yet produced a flood of any magnitude, even though precipitation amounts in many areas have shattered old records, and state amounts have exceeded those of 1951.
"The real telling factor when you have a bad flood is spacing of the precipitation." Eagleman said. "We've had wet weeks this year, but if you give the streams a couple of days to even out and carry the water a little farther away, then there's less likelihood of a flood."
Eagleman said that data over the years have suggested that a correlation exists between sunspot activity and the cyclic precipitation amounts observed. He said that sunspot activity progressed in one direction for 11 years, then reversed for another 11 years, resulting in a 22-year cycle.
Eaglemann said that scientists didn't know why a correlation existed between sunspots and precipitation cycles on earth. He said next year would be the peak year of the current cycle and theoretically would be wetter than this year.
Marotz, however, says he prefers to use a more earth-based method for determining wet and dry cycles. His conclusions are based on the Palmer method, which uses a universal scale to indicate wet and dry periods.
He said that the method was the most widely accepted method of looking at wet and dry conditions. He also said the method had a longer history of accurate predictions.
For the study, Marotz said, he has charted data from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. Instead of investigating sunspots, he looked at the number of low-pressure systems that passed over a region because they are closely related to precipitation.
By Bengt Ljung Of the Kansan staff
Films on arms race draw few students
Students showed little interest in the superpowers' hair-trigger nuclear arsenals, despite the summit between President Reagan and Soviet party leader Mikhail Gorbachev, a KU professor of political science said yesterday.
The professor, Clifford Ketzel, said fewer than 100 people attended his showing of eight films and filmstrips on the nuclear arms race.
"With so much at stake at the summit, it's disappointing that so few students are interested in coming here to learn about the issues," he said. "Perhaps they feel there's little they can do about it. They probably share this view with the Soviet students."
Ketzel will show the eight half-hour films and filmstrips this morning and then again this afternoon. Students may walk in at any time, he said.
Amy Adler, Lawrence graduate student, said the showing covered both sides of the issues.
con," she said. "First, Star Wars sounds good in one film and then the second one brings out new things.
"The films are both pro and
"I like to have my views challenged to see if there are any flaws in my position"
The films used similar images of national leaders and nuclear missiles blasting off, but came to opposite conclusions on everything from the Soviet threat and the arms race to the workability of Star Wars, Reagan's proposed missile defense system.
In the films, opponents of Star Wars said a system stopping 95 percent of the Soviet missiles was not sufficiently effective. Proponents said it was.
"For this format, it's as good as you can get it," said Eric Kilgren, member of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice.
Mark Goodson, McPherson graduate student, said the films made him think he should become involved in the peace movement.
"Unless a whole lot of people get off their rear ends and make some noise, very little will change," he said.
Group picks Hilltoppers
By a Kansan reporter
KU's seven Hilltopsters were chosen during a 4th-hr selection process Wednesday night, a committee member said yesterday.
Mike Mainey, business manager of the Jayhawker Yearbook, said the seven outstanding seniors were chosen from 42 applicants.
The selection criteria were involvement, leadership and unselfish service to the campus and community, respect of the nominee's peers and a minimum grade-point average of about 3.0.
The 1985 Hilltoppers are Steven Chrzenowski, Kansas City, Kan., biology major; David Fidler, Amarillo, Texas, political science and English major; Brad Mazon, Kansas City, Mo., political science and French major; Shari Rogge, Lincoln, Neb. business administration major; Sandra Sandeen, chemistry department; John Secret, Rockford, Ill., geology major; and Maria Swall, Lawrence political science major.
The honor was established in 1930 as a way of recognizing seniors who made a contribution to the University of Kansas and Lawrence. It was discontinued in 1974 and was revived in 1983, Mainey said.
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