Dust Bowl

During the Dust Bowl, severe drought coincided with exposed and disturbed soils across parts of the Great Plains. Wind detached and transported particles, sometimes carrying fine dust far from its source. Vegetation loss reduced protection from direct wind and removed roots that helped hold soil together.

Use the soil-erosion model to compare bare ground with covered ground. Ask students to separate the climatic trigger from the land-use conditions that increased vulnerability, then compare wind removal with water-cut gullies on the Loess Plateau.