Okla-homey
3/1/2006, 07:25 AM
Which begs the question, will the Dust Bowl of 70 years ago repeat?
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/1267/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz13.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Perhaps the most devastating weather driven event in American history, the drought of the 1920's and 1930's significantly impacted the central plains' economic, social, and natural landscapes. Abnormally dry and hot growing season weather throughout the better part of two decades turned OUr farm fields to dust and small lakes into muddy ponds.
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/4048/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzusadus.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The parched soil was easily taken up by strong winds, often turning day into night. The drought peaked 70 years ago this spring and the heat of the summer of 1936, set many high temperature records that still stand today.
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/9546/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz12.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The illustrations above compare the NASA model results (top image) to rainfall data collected from 1932 to 1938 (bottom image). The model data show extensive drying throughout the Great Plains. The dark red represents the driest areas, followed by light red, then orange, and yellow, which is the least dry. The lower image shows observed rainfall maps. The model results agree well with the observations, validating the model
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/9582/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz2.gif (http://imageshack.us)
I used to think the dust bowl was just part of the Great Depression, but it was actually a big weather phenomenon. The central had U.S. received 10% to 25% less rain than normal in the early Thirties. An increase in wheat and cattle production after World War I had opened up a lot of new land to cultivation and cattle, and the typical conservation practice of the day didn't do much to control erosion.
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/3774/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz3.gif (http://imageshack.us)
With the financial stress of the Depression, many people were more concerned with being able to eat rather than preserving topsoil. As a result, when the unprecedented drought hit in the 1930s, up to 4 inches Great Plains topsoil just blew away.
http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/7113/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Springtime 1936
IOW, I'm not inclined to think we're going to see another Dust Bowl begin this summer, but it sure is dry. Lets keep our fingers crossed, and hope we get some decent rain before too much longer.
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/9050/insane7zo8ag.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/1267/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz13.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Perhaps the most devastating weather driven event in American history, the drought of the 1920's and 1930's significantly impacted the central plains' economic, social, and natural landscapes. Abnormally dry and hot growing season weather throughout the better part of two decades turned OUr farm fields to dust and small lakes into muddy ponds.
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/4048/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzusadus.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The parched soil was easily taken up by strong winds, often turning day into night. The drought peaked 70 years ago this spring and the heat of the summer of 1936, set many high temperature records that still stand today.
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/9546/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz12.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The illustrations above compare the NASA model results (top image) to rainfall data collected from 1932 to 1938 (bottom image). The model data show extensive drying throughout the Great Plains. The dark red represents the driest areas, followed by light red, then orange, and yellow, which is the least dry. The lower image shows observed rainfall maps. The model results agree well with the observations, validating the model
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/9582/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz2.gif (http://imageshack.us)
I used to think the dust bowl was just part of the Great Depression, but it was actually a big weather phenomenon. The central had U.S. received 10% to 25% less rain than normal in the early Thirties. An increase in wheat and cattle production after World War I had opened up a lot of new land to cultivation and cattle, and the typical conservation practice of the day didn't do much to control erosion.
http://img479.imageshack.us/img479/3774/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz3.gif (http://imageshack.us)
With the financial stress of the Depression, many people were more concerned with being able to eat rather than preserving topsoil. As a result, when the unprecedented drought hit in the 1930s, up to 4 inches Great Plains topsoil just blew away.
http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/7113/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Springtime 1936
IOW, I'm not inclined to think we're going to see another Dust Bowl begin this summer, but it sure is dry. Lets keep our fingers crossed, and hope we get some decent rain before too much longer.
http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/9050/insane7zo8ag.jpg (http://imageshack.us)