Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas

TitleKonza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas
Publication TypeBook Chapter
Year of Publication1987
AuthorsBark, LD
EditorGreenwood, D
Book TitleThe Climate of the Long-term Ecological Research Sites
Pagination45 -50
PublisherUniversity of Colorado: Institute for Artic and Alpine research, occasional paper 44
CityBoulder, CO
Accession NumberKNZ00134
Keywordstallgrass prairie
Abstract

Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, dominated by native tallgrass prairie, is a 3487 ha site located approximately 11 km south of Manhattan, Kansas. As part of the Flint Hills region, this site is a dissected upland with hard chert- and flint-bearing limestone layers exposed on steep-sided hills. Elevations on Konza range from 320 to 444 m. The ridges are characteristically flat with shallow rocky soils. The weather station, which is accessible through the year, is located in the northwest corner of the Konza Prairie approximately 100 m below the ridge tops. This permanent station is equipped with a Campbell Scientific data logger and National Atmospheric Deposition Program collection devices. The close proximity of Konza prairie to Manhattan and Kansas State University allows the large weather data bank of the Kansas Experiment Station to be used to describe any long term climatic changes which may have taken place since 1891