6A
NEWS
SCIENCE
THE UNIVERSITY'S DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Researcher maps Greenland
Graduate research assistant's project helps scientists study ice sheets
BY SACHIKO MIYAKAWA smiyakawa@kansan.com
Jakobshavn, Greenland, is 2,637 miles away from Lawrence, but thanks to Audrey Fusco, it seems a lot closer.
This past summer, Fusco, Wichita graduate research assistant, completed a flight line map of Jakobshaven that is being used to help researchers study the ice sheet in the area. Fusco works at the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets, CReSIS, and developed the map without traveling to Greenland.
WHAT IS IT: CReSIS
CReSIS measures the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica using radar, which allows researchers to collect data from far away. The data tells researchers the amount of snow accumulation and provides information about the internal layers of the ice sheets over large areas.
CReSIS is...
• The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets.
CReSIS is...
"Before CreSIS developed a radar to see these layers, scientists had to rely on snow pits and ice cores to obtain information about the ice sheets," Fusco said.
- Three years old. The National Science Foundation approved KU researchers' proposals and established CReSIS in 2005.
Source: David Braaten, CReSIS deputy director
- On West Campus.
For her project, Fusco used a geographic information system to build a map for an airplane and to obtain geographical coordinates for the area that researchers wanted to study. A pilot programmed the coordinates into a plane so that it could fly over the area. The plane carried a device that uses radar to collect data.
- On West Campus.
- Composed of 12 faculty members from the departments of geography and geology and the School of Engineering.
CRESIS also partners with researchers from domestic universities and international institutions, including University of Denmark and Haskell Indian Nations University.
Two students at Haskell Indian Nations University and RJ Rowley, instructor of geography at Haskell, helped with Fusco's mapping project.
WHAT IS IT: ICE CORE
Cylinders of ice obtained by drilling into a glacier.
Rowley said Fusco's map was more efficient than the one that was previously used.
Source: greenfacts.org
Ice cores provide information on climate from different periods that can be used for research.
"It wasn't as organized and
Scientists at the University of Kansas' Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets study glaciers in Greenland because changes in glaciers can affect climate around the world.
straightforward as Audrey's" Rowley said.
Jakobshavn is an outlet glacier on the west coast of Greenland. Fusco said Jakobshavn was one of the fastest flowing outlet glaciers in the world.
David Braaten, professor of geography and the CReSIS deputy director, said it was important for CReSIS to measure the change of the glacier to understand its effect on the rest of the world.
Fusco said if the ice sheet on Greenland and the glacier completely melted, the sea levels would rise about 23 feet.
Braaten said the current rate of sea level rise could affect many coastal mega-cities and expose millions of people to threats from natural disaster.
Scientists can provide data that could prevent disasters, Braaten said.
"What's happening now is going to continue and accelerate." Braaten said. "Hopefully, we'll have the opportunity to say how fast and how much."
Fusco studies human geography at the University. She said that she had never built a flight map before starting the project and that the exposure to physical geography was a good experience for her.
"I really enjoyed learning about what is happening regarding climate change" Fusco said.
Edited by Becka Cremer
Rvan McGeenev/KANSAN
Jack Hutsey, Wichita junior, is a founding member and president of the Young Conservatives of the University of Kansas with their student political club that seeks to attract participants with their ideology, instead of party affiliation. The group is modeled after the charter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, which has chapters at at more than seven universities throughout the state of Texas.
CONSERVATIVE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
nance of a strong military.
David White, state chairman of the YCT, said that while he was unaware of Hutsey's actions to emulate his organization, he was delighted to see like-minded individuals establishing a foothold at the University.
"We're humbled and think it's wonderful that other groups are following our model." White said.
White said that college students at campuses as far away, as New Zealand had sought the YCT's help to establish conservative groups.
Conservatives aren't necessarily
"As far as I'm concerned, everyone's welcome," VanBusirk said. "We'd love to work with them if there's something we can agree on, which I'm sure there is."
TRAGEDY Witchcraft rumor sparks riot at Congo soccer game
Edited by Lauren Keith
Most of the victims were between the ages of 11 and 16, Radio Okapi said. They were suffocated as panicked crowds ran for the exits during the mayhem Sunday in Butembo in eastern Congo's North Kivu province.
the only ones happy to see more political involvement by students on campus. Colleen VanBuskirk, co-president of KU Delta Force, a progressive political coalition, said she looked forward to the Young Conservatives making themselves heard.
KINSHASA, Congo — Accusations that a soccer player was using witchcraft during a match in eastern Congo sparked a riot that killed 13 people, a U.N-funded radio station reported Monday.
Radio Okapi said police tried to control the violence at Matokeo stadium by firing into the air to protect their commander, who was hit in the head and wounded by fans.
The two local clubs involved
were Socozaki and Nyuki System, the radio said.
Mpalukai said the government was investigating.
Dozens of teenagers marched through Butembo's dirt streets Monday in protest, and the regional governor, Julien Mpaluku, paid a visit to the hospital.
He made no mention of witchcraft, but confirmed that soldiers had fired into the air to calm angry crowds. The shooting prompted panic instead, which became fatal "when the crowds all tried to leave at the same time."
"Most of the dead were children, only two or three were adults," Mpaluku said.
North kivu has been the epicenter of violence between Congo's army and rebels over the last year which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Associated Press