Climate of Pakistan

Climate and Weather

 Climate: Weather is generalization of the
day to day weather conditions over a long
period of time usually thirty years.
 Weather: Weather refers to the
atmospheric conditions of any place for a
short period of time (temporary changes in
the climate)
Difference between weather and
climate
WEATHER: Weather is CLIMATE: Climate is
what conditions of the how the atmosphere
atmosphere are over a "behaves" over relatively
short period of time. long periods of time.
Seasons of Pakistan

 Pakistan has four seasons

 Winter (mid December to March)
 Early summer (April to June)
 Late summer (July to September)
 Post monsoon (October to Mid December)
Rainfall
 The quantity of water, expressed in inches, precipitated as rain,
snow, hail, or sleet in a specified area and time interval.
 Only in a few northern areas humid conditions are found. The
rainfall in Pakistan is highest in northern areas decreases towards
south.
Sources of rainfall in Pakistan:
 Monsoon winds
 The Western Depression
 Convectional Currents
 Relief rainfall

 Tropical cyclones
Monsoon winds:

 Monsoon winds are seasonal winds which blow during

summer and winter. The summer winds are called
South-west monsoons and the winter winds are called
North-east monsoons.
 South-west monsoon are giant sea breezes which bring
rainfall. the rains began when the ocean are less heated
and land is more heated. The air from the land rises
developing a low pressure and it attracts the cool air
causing heavy rainfall.
 North-east monsoons blow from the land towards the
sea.
Western depression
 Western Depression are the cyclones
which originate in Mediterranean Sea,
they travel across Afghanistan and Iran
and then reach the western part of
Pakistan. The moisture in the air is
evaporated causing rainfall.
Convectional currents

 Hot air rises during summer and when it reaches the

high layer of atmosphere, condensation takes place
causing rainfall. Strong winds accompanying the storms
may pick up dust with them
 Only northern and north western areas of Pakistan
receive rainfall from Convectional currents. Southern
Pakistan despite being more hot then the northern areas
experience less rainfall because of temperature
inversion layer.
Relief rainfall:

 Relief rainfall is related to the height of

land. It occurs where moist unstable air
moves up a mountain edge and it is
chilled, heavy condensation takes place
and rainfall occurs.
Tropical cyclones:

 Tropical cyclones bring heavy rainfall for

few hours and can cause a lot of
destruction. They originate in Arabian Sea
quite often but rarely reach the coast of
Pakistan. Therefore, this source of rainfall
is totally unreliable.
Climatic zones of Pakistan
 Highland Zone:
 Region: Northern, north western and western highlands.
 Areas: Chitral, Murree, Muzzafarabad, Drosh, Quetta,
Kalat, Parachinar, Waziristan
 Climate: the winters are long, cold and snowy and
summers remain short and mild
 Rainfall is normally associated with altitude. Rainfall in
Northern Mountain is highest in the highland zone.
Rainfall in the western mountain is less
 The temperature conditions also vary from north to west
depending on the altitude.
 North: Summers are short and mild because of
transfer of heat from central Pakistan and high
angle of sun.
 Winters are very cold because of high altitude
and low angle of sun.
 West: summers are dry and warm in Western
mountain because of continental effect, aridity
and high angle of sun
 Winters are mild warm because of low angle of
sun, altitude and Western Depressions.
 The growth of tress is retarded because of severe cold
winters. At some places rivers and torrents also freeze
and during winter farming is not practiced and people are
involved in indoor activities.
 Transhumance is also practiced
 People live their as nomadic herdsman
 Many northern areas are not accessible due to
landslides and heavy snowfall
 Lack of water supple discourages human settlements
Sources of rainfall:

 Relief rainfall
 Monsoon rainfall
 Thunderstorms
 Western Depression
Arid zone
 Regions: south-eastern desert, and south-western Balochistan
 Areas: Kharran Desert south-western Balochistan, south-eastern
desert.
 Climate:
 It is markedly dry and hot. Hot dusty winds prevail continuously from
mid –May to mid-September, rainfall takes place during winter
season in south-western Balochistan, in south eastern desert
monsoons bring little rainfall. Extreme heat, dust storms are the
main features of this arid climate.
 Winters are cool-mild because of low angle of sun, summers are hot
because of high angle of sun. Summers are very hot during the day.
Life and Economic activities
 The region is deficient of moisture.
 the temperature is so extreme that it isn’t suitable for habitation or
cultivation.
 The majority of people are nomadic, they move from one place to another
with their animals.
 Because rainfall is very low that’s why unique system of karez is
established.
 Through perennial canals many areas are irrigated.
 People there wear thick and rough clothes in order to protect them
from extreme heat.
 They move from one place to another in search of water.
 Source of rainfall
• Little rainfall from Western Depression and monsoon winds.
Lowland Zone – Semi arid to arid
 Region: Indus plain except the Coastal areas.
 Areas: Islamabad, Sialkot, Sarghoda, Multan, Jacobabad, and
Sukkur
 Climate:
 It has arid and extreme climate with hot summers, cool winters and
summer monsoon rainfall.
 Thunderstorms are also common in north and north-west of the
Indus plain. The upper Indus plain and Lower Indus plain there’s
less rainfall and spells of very high temperature.
 Winters are cool-mild because of low angle of sun and continental
effect and summers are hot due to high angle of sun and continental
effect.
Life and Economic activities:
 The plain is drained through four
tributaries of Indus River, economically; it
is the most productive region of Pakistan.
There is a well developed canal system
and many crops are grown there such as
millet, wheat, cotton and sugarcane
 Population is high and there’s moderate
rainfall and tolerable temperature.
Sources of rainfall:

 Convectional rainfall in northern Punjab

 Western depression in northern Punjab
 Monsoon rainfall
Coastal zone
 Region: Indus Delta, Karachi and Makran coast
 Areas: Karachi, Jiwani, Pasni, Ormara and Gwadar
 Climate:
 The climate is dominated by sea breezes throughout the year; the maritime
influence keeps the daily temperature low. The temperature on land and sea
is different; land and water absorb the sun’s heat and water and also radiate
it. In summer the land heats up, while ocean remains cool. In winter the land
loses heat quickly and becomes cold while ocean remains hot.
 The humidity level is usually high, more than 50% from April to September.
Means monthly temperature is 32۫C and May, June and October are the
hottest month.
 During October the climate is dominated by dry winds from south-eastern
desert. Rainfall is scanty; the rainfall is experienced during monsoon
season.
Life and economic activities:

 The rainfall takes place during monsoon season, many tourist visit Karachi
in November and February and most of the social events are held in these
months. The extent of precipitation affects the supply of drinking water in
Gwadar. The development of Gwadar port had made is a major district of
Pakistan and had contributed in the economic development of Balochistan.
 Economic activities could be carried out throughout the year because of
moderate climate. Farming is possible, the sea ports are operational
throughout the year in order to carry international trade, roads and rail
transport links are never closed in the year for the businesses, air flights are
rarely cancelled, all types of industries are present there.
 However, during summer months, tropical cyclones sometimes cause
coastal flooding in low-lying areas causing damage to infrastructure. Fishing
is nearly impossible when the sea is wild and fishing communities face
losses.
Sources of rainfall:

 Monsoon rainfall
 Western depression
 Tropical cyclones
Factors affecting temperature of
Pakistan
 Latitudinal effect:
 The areas that lie near the equator encounter more amounts of sun rays than the areas that don’t
lie near the equator. Southern Pakistan receives more amounts of sun rays as compared to
Northern Pakistan.
 Continental effect:
 The areas that are away from the sea are unaffected by maritime influence, consequently; they
are more hot as compared to areas near sea. Winters are extreme and summer temperatures are
quite severe
 Altitude and temperature
 Cloud cover and temperature
 In daytime cloud cover reduces the amount of heat by reflecting the heat back to the space but in
night time it traps the out going heat and because of this the cloudy nights are warm.
 Latitude and angle of sun
 The sun rays don’t fall at the same angle everywhere.
 During summer, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun and the northern areas of
Pakistan absorb more heat because of high angle of sun, during winter the northern hemisphere
is tilted away from the sun and the northern areas experience sun for shorter duration.
River flood
 Overflow of large amount of water beyond its
normal limit, especially over what is normally dry
land.
 Rivers are considered by many people around
the country as the best place for economic
development. Water is tentatively an imperative
resource for human beings but its excess may
lead to disaster. Excessive water in rivers bring
flood
Reasons of floods
 The current flooding in Pakistan is mainly due to climate change. It is the
unusual climate-change-led seasonal cycle of land temperature in Pakistan
that has exacerbated the monsoon rainfall and produced the hugest volume
of water in the northern mountainous region of the country ever recorded in
the history, causing floods in the Indus river basin.
 The wood is in demand and because of this there’s excessive cutting of
tress which increases surface run off, the trees mangroves act as a barrier
and they can protect the settlements from floods but because of increasing
industrialization and urbanization the water pollution is increasing
threatening mangroves
 The embankments around the river are not heightened, water easily
reaches the settlements.
 The dams don’t have much capacity to store water and because of this extra
water is not store causing flood.
Ways to reduce the risk of floods

 Planting more trees in order to keep check of the flow of water

 Build levees in order to prevent the spread of floodwater
 Stop building on floodplains
 Build flood controlling Dams.
Building Canals (Drains of Extra Water).
Using less greenhouse gases and reducing pollution in order to stop
global warming which is one of the major causes of floods
 Prevent Soil Erosion.
Do not build on high flood risk area.
 Flood warning should be given through media
 Floodwater must be drained out and facilities to the refugees must
be provided
Effects of flood
 The farmers aren’t able to use the land until the water
drains; they face destruction of crops and loss of food
supplies. The load of river improve the fertility of land
 the houses will cut off from the shops and services, mud
houses are damaged and water-borne diseases are
spread
 The transport system is severely affected, roads and
railway tracks are damaged and old routes are arduous
to follow because they are drained with water.
precautions
 During monsoon season they must move to
somewhere else in order to protect their
livestock
 Local residents should change their place and
arrangements should be made in order to fulfill
the basic necessities of life.
 The transport authorities should prepare a
precaution plan and should tell the transporters
about the alternative ways. Roads and railway
tracks must be repaired on an emergency basis.
Benefits of floods

 Floods return nutrients to the land and contribute

to the health of wetlands
 Floods distribute rich sediments and refresh
stream. A flooded field could be used to cultivate
rice
 Allowing rivers and streams to overflow can
prevent more serious flooding
 The high level of fish production because of
nutrients
 Floods recharge the ground water supplies.
Storms
 A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical
body's atmosphere especially affecting its surface, and strongly
implying severe. It may be marked by
strong wind, hail, thunder and/or lightning (a thunderstorm),
heavy precipitation (snowstorm, rainstorm), heavy freezing rain (ice
storm), strong winds (tropical cyclone, windstorm), or wind
transporting some substance through the atmosphere
Drought
 Drought is an extended period when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply.
A drought can last for months or years, or may be declared after as few as 15 days.
Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average
precipitation
 There are four ways of categorizing drought
 Permanent drought
 Exist where crop cultivation isn’t possible
 Seasonal drought:
 Occurs in areas with well-defined rainy and dry season
 Invisible drought:
 It is the result of a water deficiency that reduces crop yields
 Unpredictable drought
 It is the result of abnormally low rainfall
Causes of drought

 Natural
 Unreliability of monsoon winds may lead to seasonal drought
 The dry and hot winds can reduce the moisture contents of sandy
soil
 Global climate is constantly changing leading to changes in
Pakistan’s climate
 Human
 Deforestation on foothills increase soil erosion and reduces rainfall
 Mismanagement of water resources
 The disputed and unfair distribution of water
 Over grazing of land
 Global warming
Effects of drought

 The effects of drought on physical environment are sever, the land

is turned into a desert and because of this the soil is exposed
leading to soil erosion, many species are extinct because of lack of
food. There’s rise in temperature and loss of vegetation, because of
low precipitation there’s extension of desert areas.
 Drought not only effect physical environment but also human
environment, drought affect
 Population
 Loss of life because of widespread famines, malnutrition, health
problems and starvation
 Nomadic lifestyle because people migrate from the areas that are
affected by drought and because of this urbanization is increased
causing an increase in domestic waste leading to water pollution.
Drought management

 Water storage schemes: reservoirs and dams should be

built in order to store water and some traditional methods
should also be utilized in oreder to store water. The
areas that receive heavy rainfall can utilize the water
through perennial canal system. More projects are
required in order to mett the needs of people.
 New methods should be used, desalination process
should be used, conversion of waste water in to clean
water through chemical treatment
 Drought resistant seeds should be used
 High priority should be given to the allocation of water to
industrial areas and to meet the basic needs of people.