How about this for a new state slogan: Kansas, not as windy as you think?
A study of long-term wind speed trends suggests just that — across the United States, in Kansas and a few other states in particular, have been steadily decreasing since 1973. The study, to be published in August in the Journal of Geophysical Research, is the first of its kind in the U.S.
Using data from wind monitors, the study found that winds had slowed across the U.S. by about 10 percent over 30 years.
While Missouri winds have shown only modest changes, Kansas winds have slowed by about 15 percent, said the study’s co-author, Eugene Takle, a professor of atmospheric science at Iowa State University.
Tell that to Linda Hessman, who has been battling winds at her Dodge City, Kan., farm for more than 40 years.
“We all joke about the fact that forecasters say it’s going to be breezy. What’s breezy?” Hessman jokes. “I guess windy is 40 miles per hour.”
Read the complete story at kansascity.com