Adnan Akyüz, assistant professor of climatology and North Dakota state climatologist, discussed the Red River flood of 2013 with students living in Reed-Johnson Hall on April 25.

“It is important to communicate our climate with young students. If they know more, they worry less; especially during finals week,” Akyüz said.

He talked about the conditions of the Red River that led to flooding. “A gradual northward slope of four inches per mile, synchrony of spring melting from south to north and the meandering Red River in the valley are some of the most important factors leading to frequent flooding in the Red River,” Akyüz said. “However, being in the middle of the wet period that started in 1993 is the main reason why we have had four major floods during the past five years.”

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.