The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-08
Nebraska Scientists Claim
DrOuth Caused by Kansas.
College Men Argue Question,
but Are Not Positive.
THEORY SOUNDS REASONABLE
Barren Plains and Uncultivat-
ed Soil Is Responsible.
ALI Moisture i'm Central Section
Comes From Gulf.

Lincoln, Neb., Sept. S-A new theory
advanced for evaporation and the cause
of drouth is making certain universe
ty professors o. Lincoln, particularly
in this sweltering hot weather, sit up and
start gossiping. The new theory holds
briefly that lack of moisture in the
far south gulf country co.'s indlect-
Nv drouths through the middle western
country The drouth then instead VI
being confined to local area, Is eA-
tended with varying intensity through
a vast area.
To the iversity men the theory
sound reasonable. Several are waiting
for the return of Professor Lovelanu'
university meteorologist, from ms va
cation to discuss the theory anu " g
certain it's Soundness ana compare
ords in the local weather bureau.
Tbe theory was first advanced d
few weeks ago in a sclehtiIc
zinc BECAUSE of the unusuaily oiy
-Ii-oatic conditions in the middle west
oresent summer it Immediately
taconoe quite widely read among SCI
sntific men. 1t is quite revolutionary
ir its scope and overthroWs many "a
tbe older theories in regard to rams
The theory combines weather -
5;tions with the theory of relay Ioo1
a;n1 Moisture is relayed from one
90 IN another. If there is no ram
fan in one section then there can pe
nome in another, the next statlon u
the relay. ~ ,r,,,e of
All water comes from the gun "
Ntexico for the middle western states;
ut II does not come directly Ola
Sol hicks the water from the gun ana
promptly drops it in the gun sta e
I louisiana, Mississippi, Texas AiCei
drenching the ground in TINS section'
ola Sol once more picks up the rnols-
+ure. carries it further north anu olop9
II again. this time perhaps IN the SCI
ond tier of states. From the ihoiS1
fields and forests, he once more pichs
nm his moisture and carries IL the me-
stem to the northward, landlng II pei
hans in Kansas and Nebraska In TINS
way the original supply or nloisluis
taken from the gulf is used time anu
time again
That is the theory of eVaporlzdtioA
and rainfall, as propoundeo py 'n
magazine article. heAS - N
of drouth:
II some unusual atmospheric con-
ditions in the gulf region intervene
and prevent the original supply Oh
moisture from falling on the territory
inomediateiy surrounding the gull
then Old Sol does not have any to
carry to the next relay station Also
having none to pick up from the sec
ord, he has none to carry 10 the thiru-
Until the atmosphere obstacle IS re-
tire central western states are ehsuh
ed in a drouth. However, If 1t once
rains in Louisiana, it is likely to ram
in Arkansas. If it rains in Arkansas
than it is likely to rain in Kansas
and Missouri, If it rains in Kansas ana
Missoupri it is hkeiy TO IN NJ
braska-
AS a side issue of the theory is the
effect of forestation and vegetation
upon rainfall. Statistics with the ar
ticle show that of rainfall in a barren
country approximately elght-tentns
runs off in rivers. In a country thlckly
covered with green vegetation, the hs-
ure quoted is two-tenths.
Now il the water runs off in rivers,
1T cannot be SO readily taken up by
ola Sol However. if only a small part
of il runs off and the rest lies for
neriod of time upon the surface of veg
citation then the sun has a chance to
get in his best ticks.
Applying this to the original theory
in regard to rainfall, scientists figure
ont that a heavily vegetated country
always gives an abundance of rainfall
TO the territory lying directly to the
north. On the other hand a barren
country to the south always gives a
minimum of moisture to the country
to the north.
Hence with all conditions perfect,
with Old Sol picking up water from
the gulf and relaying it on through
the different regions of the central
west, then the country which has a
heavily vegetated region lying directly
10 the south, has a maximum of rain
fall; the country with barren dis
trict lying to the south, has a mini
mum. Therefore. if Kansas was COW
cred over with rich fertile fields, rank
vegetation and wide forests, all or
which it isn't. then Nebraska would
have all the rain it needed.