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EDTC 6341.62
ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
ESS Analysis Dust Bowl
Problem Statement:
Ninety-five
five percent of the United State Mid
Mid-west
west region is supplied by fresh water found
underground. The Ogallala Aquifer is one underground reservoir which helps supply the
Mid-west
west stretching from Texas to South Dakota. During
the 1930’s however, the Ogallala
allala Aquifer were overused
due farming and plowing which caused the aquifer to run
low due to a drought and climate variability. Our goal is to
determine if the Ogallala Aquifer was the major cause of
the 1930’s Dust Bowl and could a new dust bowl form iin
the southwest due to the limited water resources.
Read and analyze the scenario and situation
Due to Mid-west
west settlement expansion in 1862Congress
Congress passed what is known as the
Homestead Act providing 160 acres of unoccupied land to each homesteader. However, not
realizing the risks and understanding the land. Conditions turned to minimal rainfall and
scarce vegetation. Farmers labored the land which increased
farming and plowing of the soil. Yet, due to climate variability a
drought arose causing lack of rain during the 1930’s which
affected the Ogallala Aquifer to run low due to farmers using its
water for irrigation. These cause farmers to stop watering the
lands which in turn made the land arid. The arid land and dry
conditions caused the dust bow
bowls
ls which affect the land and its
inhabitants. Since, the 1930’s dust bowl the land has become
Lupita Sanchez SID 0098200
EDTC 6341.62
ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
populated and habitable. However, due to new climate changes in our environment a new
rise of a dust bowl have risen in the southwest of the United States. Since the Ogallala
Aquifer is a major source of water resource for the mid southwest and the ability to
maintain its water level depends on rain fall in the area and the possibly of water shortage
is questionable. Our goal is to determine the best way to sustain the water levels of the
t
Ogallala aquifer to prevent a reoccurrence of the 1930’s dust bowls.
E>S (Event > Sphere)
E>B
The 1930’s Dust Bowl created a d
drought which affected the cropland, farming
ing animals and
homesteaders lives.
E>L
Farmers loosen the soil for preparation for their crop
which caused extensive farming
farming; the small and only type
of vegetation keeping the soil from eroding.
E>A
The blacken dust from the dust storm affected living
conditions for
or all inhabitants including plants and crops.
E>H
Minimal rainfall contributes to a serve drought.
S>E (Sphere > Event)
B>E
Due to over plowing the topsoil displaced any grassy
plants creating a dry and dusty environment.
L>E
Excessive plowing the land became arid and loose which
contributed to the Dust Bowl.
A>E
Lack of rain the region become dry and a drought came
about.
H>E
Due to lack of rain in the region, the Ogallala Aquifer were
overused causing the low level of water source.
S > S (Sphere > Sphere)
A> B
Lack of rain caused plants and animals to die
A>L
Lack off rain cause the land to become arid and useless
A>H
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ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
Lack of rain cause the Ogallala Aquifer to replenish is
source
L>A
Due to the land being overuse the loosen dirt prevente
prevented
moisture in the air
L>B
The land was arid unable to provide food for livestock or
Homesteaders
H>B
No water supply in the Ogallala Aquifer prevented a productive farming
List your personal understanding, ideas, or hunches
In my opinion the dust bowl was caused by two variables. First, the government offered
land to the homesteaders at a low amount causing overused of the land. If the government
could have control the amount of the land each homesteader could farm or inhabit the
aquifer wouldn’t have run low. Finally,, due to the climate variability and minimal rainfall
conditions in the region a drought causing overuse of the Ogallala Aquifer.
List what is known.
1. In 1862 Congress passed the Homestead Act allowing Homesteader
Homesteaders to
o purchase land in
the Mid-West.
2. Farming is increased causing hundreds of acres of land to being plowed.
3. Climate conditions were peril to the Homesteaders
4. Drought spread across the Midwest in 1930
5. Weather conditions created dust bowls.
6. Thousands of Dustt Bowl refugees leave the Midwest and head
towards California.
7. The Ogallala Aquifer is highly used.
8. The Ogallala Aquifer is major source of water for the Midwest
region
9. The Ogallala Aquifer is depleting its ability to sustain the current agriculture.
10. A new
w dust bowl can form in the Southwest region
List what is unknown
•
•
How did the variable climate patterns affect the region?
Modern farming practices (type of equipment used then and today)?
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ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
•
•
•
•
How was the soil then and now?
Has the soil changed from then to now?
Can fertilization play a role in today’s soil?
How else did the Dust Bowl affect the region?
List what needs to be done
•
•
•
•
•
Learn from the Dust bowl events to prevent another occurrence.
Investigate other regions conditions with similar occurrences.
Utilize Internet resources to generate solutions.
Evaluate climate variability from 1930’s region and today’s climate conditions.
Explore new ideas to replenish or keep the Ogallala Aquifer to substantial levels.
Develop a problem statement
During the 1930’s the Dust Bowl caused a great disaster to the land and to the
Homesteader of the time. Due to our climate conditions and new droughts
could a new Dust Bowl arise in the Midwest region?
Gather information
Due to droughts in the Midwest region, Texas is suffering through droughts
which have cause new dust bowls.
(http://thrivinginhardtimes.com/2011/10/have-we-created-a-new-dustbowl/)
The land change and technology has helped farmers in the region however,
climate has also play a critical role in the drought which can cause a new dust
bowl.
(http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2011-07-17/landscape-changesmake-new-dust-bowl-unlikely)
(http://www.lacusveris.com/The%20HiLine%20and%20the%20Yellowstone%20Trail/The%20Buffalo%20Common
s/From%20Dust%20to%20Dust.shtml)
Record number of drought day more than the Dust bowl days have occurred
in turn making possible for another dust bowl.
(http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/05/04/208021/new-york-timesblows-the-dust-bowl-story/?mobile=nc)
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EDTC 6341.62
ESSEA Dust Bowl – Cycle A
Present findings