DROUGHT IN THE UNITED STATES, 1931–40

Abstract

ABSTRACT The 1930s were generally a decade of widespread drought in the United States. Details of the spatial and temporal patterns of drought conditions were identified by eigenvalue/eigenvector analysis. The most intense drought occurred in the northern Rocky Mountains, the northern Plains, and the central Plains. Other areas such as the Prairie Wedge and the Lower Great Lakes had the same general pattern, but the drought was much less intense. Some areas had moisture conditions nearly the reverse of those in the major drought region.