Earth  ID: 20031

NASA Explains 'Dust Bowl' Drought

Animations by Susan Twardy Released on June 24, 2004
This illustration shows how cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean temperatures (blues) and warmer than normal tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures (red and orange) contributed to a weakened low level jet stream and changed its course.
The jet stream normally flows westward over the Gulf of Mexico and then turns northward pulling up moisture and dumping rain onto the Great Plains. During the 1930s, this low level jet stream weakened, carrying less moisture, and shifted further south. The Great Plains land dried up and dust storms blew across the U.S.
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This is the standard definition version Dust Bowl Climate Conceptual animaiton MPEG.
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This is the high resolution still illustrating abnormal climate during Dust Bowl in the 1930's.
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This is the high resolution still illustrating the normal climate of the region.

Animation Credits

Susan Twardy (HTSI): Lead Animator
Siegfried D. Schubert (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Rani Chohan (NASA/GSFC): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20031

Goddard TV Tape:
G2004-020

Keywords:
SVS >> Byrne
SVS >> Drought
SVS >> Gonnelli
GCMD >> Earth Science
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Atmosphere >> Precipitation
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Oceans >> Ocean Temperature >> Sea Surface Temperature
NASA Science >> Earth

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0