Good Contributing Factors That Created The Dust Bowl In The Plains States Essay Example

Dust Bowl is an environmental catastrophe that occurred in the Southern Great Plains of U.S.A. The top soil in the great plains, literally flew away in the wind created a dust cloud in the region. The wind erosion was so intense that it almost smothered human, animal and plant life in the process. Following the incident, the land became a barren landscape and unsuitable for human inhabitation. Farmers and families were forced to leave the land and settle elsewhere as the dust made it difficult to breath.
Many agricultural experts blame over cultivation and draining of soil resources as a cause for the dust bowl catastrophe. The vegetative cover was removed from the surface to facilitate intensive agricultural practice and this is the anthropological factor that lead to the catastrophe.
The long period of drought that occurred during this time, forced people to migrate to west in search of job. The fine dust particles and the lack of rain made survival difficult. Many people lost their lives. Dust Bowl was one reason for social change and for the Great Depression that occurred during this period.
Environmental factor like a long period of drought and lack of soil conservation efforts made the surface soil dry and silty. This fine silty soil could be easily carried away by the wind.
Conclusion: Poor farming practices, converted the top soil in the great plains to dust. The long period of drought and wind, led to erosion of the soil and formation of dark sand filled clouds in the plains. The plains covered with dark dust clouds was called the Dust Bowl.