ClimateAugust 10, 2026

overplowing

oh-ver-PLOW-ing

Definition

The act of plowing soil to an excessive degree or with excessive frequency.

Etymology

Formed from the prefix 'over-' (meaning excessive) combined with the verb 'plow', which traces back to the Old English 'ploh' and shares roots with various Germanic terms for a plow.

In the news

The article uses 'overplowing' to explain that human agricultural mistakes in the 1930s left the land vulnerable to the Dust Bowl, contradicting those who claim the era's heat was entirely natural.

The U.S. just had its hottest month in recorded history, surpassing Dust Bowl record

Read the full article ↗

Yale Climate Connections

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