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FarCenter

(19,429 posts)

14. Just saw the second half -- changes farming practices helped some, but ultimately it was rain

Reply to marmar (Original post)

Sun Nov 25, 2012, 11:23 PM

Nov 2012

At the end of the '30s, the annual precipitation went back up to 20 inches / year and the dust bowl ended.

From other sources, paleoclimate studies show that similar droughts occur about twice per century.

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Meet the New Dust Bowl, Same as the Old Dust Bowl [View all] marmar Nov 2012 OP

thanks! I want to watch this, especially now living Voice for Peace Nov 2012 #1

only 200 years ago the lands were pristine, covered with millions of grazing animals. Sunlei Nov 2012 #2

Bison, antelope, etc. were the original grazers-- Jackpine Radical Nov 2012 #4

Indeed. Without humans, the Plains would probably be oak savanna NickB79 Nov 2012 #7

I think the first masses of covered wagons cut down any groves of trees pretty fast Sunlei Nov 2012 #16

horses evolved for over 50 million years on north america and spread out from here. Sunlei Nov 2012 #11

Yes, of course. Jackpine Radical Nov 2012 #13

no not the forrest horses of 60,000 years ago Sunlei Nov 2012 #15

Horses were wiped out in N. America entirely 10,000 yr ago NickB79 Nov 2012 #19

I disagree with you, horses are a native species. Sunlei Nov 2012 #20

Huh? hobbit709 Nov 2012 #27

Not just grazing animals. slackmaster Nov 2012 #10

unlike buffalo and horses, tasty domestic cattle don't have upper teeth for grass "clipping" Sunlei Nov 2012 #21

I have mixed feelings about modern "wild" horses which are descended from European imports slackmaster Nov 2012 #25

Way to go hybridized wheat. geckosfeet Nov 2012 #3

But the tillage didn't cause the drought -- it just made the consequences worse locally FarCenter Nov 2012 #5

The sand hills of Nebraska, did a well drill and ~ 80ft down there is a 40 ft layer of volcanic ash Sunlei Nov 2012 #17

Interesting -- seems mostly Yellowstone, but older than 600,000 years. FarCenter Nov 2012 #18

hope that super volcano yellowstone stays quiet for 200,000 years or more Sunlei Nov 2012 #22

Why? It's completely improbable that civilisation will last 200,000 years. FarCenter Nov 2012 #23

In addition to being and excellent source of fibers and oils, hemp enriches the soil. Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #6

Hemp grown on an industrial basis isn't that great for soils NickB79 Nov 2012 #8

Fast growing, minimal water requirement, constant production of biomass during growth cycle, Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #9

dang, I still remember hfojvt Nov 2012 #12

Many of us do KamaAina Nov 2012 #24

Just saw the second half -- changes farming practices helped some, but ultimately it was rain FarCenter Nov 2012 #14

In 20 years the Ogallala Aquifer will be depleted (no more drinking water).... Little Star Nov 2012 #26