What disaster is associated with the Dust Bowl in the 1930s?

The Dust Bowl in the 1930s is primarily associated with severe drought. This environmental disaster occurred in the Great Plains, including Oklahoma, where prolonged periods of dry weather combined with poor agricultural practices led to the loss of topsoil. Farmers, in their efforts to cultivate land, had removed native grasses that held the soil in place, making it more vulnerable to wind erosion. When the drought hit, strong winds carried away the topsoil, creating massive dust storms that devastated agriculture, displaced thousands of families, and challenged the very viability of the region's farming economy.

The drought conditions were exacerbated by a series of economic and environmental factors, including over-farming and the impacts of the Great Depression, contributing to the widespread devastation experienced during this period.