NASA-funded study to examine crops' effect on weather
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
(AP) - A new study at South Dakota State University -- and funded by NASA -- will try to find out how a move from corn and soybeans to grasses grown primarily for biofuel would affect the weather.
Scientists will use various field and modeling approaches to examine the potential impacts of such a shift in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, western Minnesota and northern Iowa under various scenarios of biofuel cultivation.
Senior scientist Michael Wimberly says the researchers are not trying to predict exactly what would happen. He says the goal is to make broad but reasonable assumptions so potential consequences can become part of the discussion.
The $738,000 study is a collaboration among scientists at SDSU, the School of Mines in Rapid City and the U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center near Sioux Falls.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.
