Final answer:
Human actions, particularly overuse of the land and alteration of the natural vegetation, had a detrimental impact on the natural systems of the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl. This resulted in the depletion of topsoil and the vulnerability of the land to erosion, which contributed to the severity of the dust storms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scale and duration of human actions, including modifying the landscape, had a significant impact on the natural systems of the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl. Overproduction, overuse of the land, and intensive farming practices led to the depletion of topsoil and ecological imbalances.
The removal of the deep-rooted natural vegetation through overfarming and overgrazing left the land vulnerable to erosion. As a result, when a massive drought hit the region, the exposed and degraded soil turned to dust and fueled the devastating dust storms that characterized the Dust Bowl.