Unit: 2 Climate

Weather and Climate:

 Daily atmospheric condition of an area is called weather.
 Generalization of weather conditions over a longer period of time, usually 30 years.

Temperature generalization key Rainfall generalization key

Description Temperature range Description Rainfall range

Very cold Less than -5°C Very arid Less than 125mm/yr
Cold 2°C to -5°C Arid 125mm/yr-250mm/yr
Cool 9°C to 3°C
Semi-arid 250mm/yr-750mm/yr
Mild 20°C to 10°C
Moist 750mm/yr-1500mm/yr
Warm 39°C to 21°C
Hot 45°C to 40°C Wet 1500mm/yr -2500mm/yr
Very hot More than 45°C Very wet More than 2500mm/yr

Climatic Zone:

Highland Climate:
 Climate of northern, north-western and western mountain areas.
 These are highland areas
 Winters are long and cold
 Precipitation occurs in the form of snow
 Summers are short with mild climatic conditions
 Western mountains have low altitude as compared to northern mountains
 High rainfall at northern mountains
 Less annual rainfall at western mountain
 Western mountains are cold during winter and hot during summer due to low altitude
 Gilgit and Chitral experience less rainfall due to rain-shadow area
 Areas include (Gilgit, Chitral, Muzaffrabad, Murree, Abbotabad, Quetta, Kalat, Ziarat)

Lowland Climate:
 Indus Plain (upper and lower) is included in lowland climate
 Plain and flat land area
 Experience arid and semi-arid climate
 Long and hot summers

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  Short and mild or cool winters
 Receive monsoon rainfall during summers
 Monsoon rainfall decreases from north to south
 Temperature rises north to south
 Northern parts receive convectional rainfall as well
 Areas include (Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan Jacobabad)

Coastal Climate:
 Coastal areas of Sindh and Makran
 Sea and land breeze blow
 Maritime influence keeps the temperature low even during summers
 Sea breeze (from sea towards land) blow during day time and summers due to difference in temp.
and air pressure between land and sea body.
 land breeze (from land towards sea) blow during night and winters
 Sea breeze keeps the humidity level high (50-70%)
 Average temperature is 32 °C
 At Sindh Coast most rain falls during monsoon season
 Makran Coast receive most rain fall during winters
 Areas include (Coastal areas of Sindh and Makran Coast)

Arid Climate:
 Climate of desert areas (Thar, kharan)
 Hot and dry climate for whole year
 Very little annual rainfall
 Dusty storms during summers
 Eastern Thar Desert receive rainfall during monsoon season
 Western Kharan Desert in Balochistan during winter season
 Areas include (Thar Desert in Sindh, Kharan Desert in Balochistan)

Factors Affecting Temperature of Pakistan:

Latitude effect:
 Areas closer to equator receive direct sun rays resulting high temperature (areas of lower Sindh)
 Areas are away from the equator experience low temperature as sun rays falls diagonally (northern
areas of Pakistan)
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  This means increasing degrees of latitudes i.e. moving from 0° to 90° N and S the atmospheric
temperature decreases. In other words, moving from equator towards poles, the atmospheric
temperature falls down. In Pakistan, southern areas (23.5°N) are closer tp the equator thus warmer
while northern areas (37°N) are away from equator, thus cooler

Altitude effect:
 There is a relationship between altitude and temperature. In general, with increasing altitude from sea
level the atmospheric temperature falls down.
 Air near coastal areas denser due to more absorption of water vapors, dust particle and solar radiation
results high temperature.
 Air is least dense at high altitude areas and absorbs less heat results decrease in temperature.
 An average 6.5°C decrease in temperature for every 1000m increase in height.
 In Pakistan, southern areas are close to sea level due to Arabian Sea thus warmer while northern
areas are at higher altitude of nearly 6000m due to Karakorum and Himalayan mountains thus cooler.

Maritime influence:
 Areas near coast observe less heat due to maritime influence. It is the effect of large water bodies on
the atmospheric temperature of adjoining coastal areas. Sea water influence the temperature through
sea and land breeze.
 Sea breeze and land breeze influence keep the daily and seasonal temperature low at coastal areas of
Sindh and Balochistan throughout the year. i.e. neither very hot in summer, nor cold in winters. So
there are warm summers and mild winters.
 Average temperature at coast areas is 32°C.

Continental effect:
 The interior parts of the country which are away from the sea (inland areas), like areas of upper
Indus plain northern parts of Sindh are generally observes extreme winter and summers.

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Cloud Cover:
 Cloud cover at day time reduces the amount of incoming solar radiation by reflecting it, causing low
temperature.
 Cloud cover at night, trap the outgoing heat resulting lesser drop in temperature.

Vegetation Cover:

 In general, vegetation / forest cover helps to lower down the temperature as trees blocks the sun
radiations to reach at land. And it also absorbs Carbon dioxide gas from air which is greenhouse gas
and responsible to increase in temperature.

Latitude and the angle of the sun:

 Temperature difference during summer and winter is due to the angle of the sun.
 (as Pakistan is in northern hemisphere) during summer northern hemisphere is tilted towards sun so
absorb more direct heat for larger period of time resulting high summer temperature.
 During winters northern hemisphere is tilted away from sun, so sun rays fall diagonally for shorter
period of time resulting low temperature during winter.

Factors affecting Pakistan’s Climate:

in general, on the basis of above discussion we can say that following factors effect the temperature of
Pakistan.
 Diversified topography (highlands, plains, deserts and coastal areas)
 Large spread of latitude from 24°N to 37°N
 Continental effects result high temperature in Indus plain areas
 Maritime influence near coast results low temperature during summer and high during winter.
 Monsoon rainfall during summer (July to September)
 Western depression rainfall during winters
 Jacobabad in Lower Indus Plain is most hot of area where temperature rises up to 53°C in June due
to the continental effect.

Sources of Rainfall in Pakistan:

 Monsoon
 The Western Depression
 Convectional Currents
 Relief rainfall

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  Tropical Cyclones

Monsoon Rainfall:

 During summer land absorbs more heat as compared to sea water results difference air pressure (high
pressure at sea and low at land).
 Moisture winds starts to blow from sea to land (sea breeze)
 Winds from Indian Ocean and Arabian sea blow towards subcontinent during summer
 Low pressure in Pakistan during summers attracts monsoon winds
 These reaches Pakistan after crossing India during July
 These enters into Pakistan from north-east
 Himalayas block the winds and change its direction from north to south
 Rainfall decreases as winds move from north to south
 Winds start from Indian Ocean (Primary monsoon) causes high rainfall as compared to the winds
starts from the Arabian Sea (secondary monsoon).
 Winter monsoon causing low rainfall as these winds blow from land towards sea so it causing no or
less rainfall.

Summer Monsoon Winter Monsoon

Source Winds start to blow from Indian Ocean /Bay Winds starts to blow from Siberia to
of Bengal to sub-continent (sea breeze) Indian ocean (land breeze)
Timing July – September December - March
Direction South east North east
Nature These are moisture laden winds causing These are dry and chilled winds causing
high rainfall in India, Bangladesh and low or no rainfall
Pakistan
Areas of These winds causing high rainfall in eastern Little rainfall in Indus plain
rainfall parts of Pakistan (Punjab and Sindh) and
rainfall decreases from north to south

Primary Monsoon Secondary Monsoon

Source Indian ocean / Bay of Bengal Arabian Sea
Timing July – September July- September
Direction Via Indian and Bangladesh to Pakistan Via Arabian Sea directly to coastal areas
(South east) of Pakistan (sourth east)
Nature Comparatively weaker winds system Stronger wind system with high moisture
Areas of These winds causing high rainfall in eastern Causing low rainfall at coastal areas of
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 rainfall parts of Pakistan (Punjab and Sindh) and Sindh and Balochistan
rainfall decreases from north to south
Advantages of Monsoon rainfall:

 Pleasant weather (fall in temperature) during summer

 Reduce the pollution and dust from the air
 Provide water to the kharif crops (summer season crops)
 Water store in dam use to supply during dry season
 Used to generate power (HEP)
 Raise in ground water table by recharging the ground water
 Causes rainfall even in arid climate zone (Thar Desert)

Disadvantages of Monsoon rainfall:

 Heavy monsoon rainfall causes flooding

 Destruction of settlement and infrastructure
 Heavy shower damages the crops
 Cause more run off results loss of fertile soil
 Unreliable rainfall may affect crops at Barani areas
o Early arrival of rainfall means prolonged rainfall may causes floods
o Late arrival of rainfall means less rain results drought conditions

Western Depression rainfall:

 Causes rainfall during winters (December to March)

 Winds originates from Mediterranean Sea due to difference in air pressure between land and sea
 After travelling from Iran and Afghanistan winds enter into Pakistan from north-western parts
 Sufed Koh Mountains blocks the winds and change the direction from north to south
 Mainly causes heavy rainfall in the western parts of Pakistan (Western mountains and Balochsitan)
 Amount of rainfall decreases as wind move north to south and west to east.
 Mostly light shower rainfall
 Murree, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum in northern Punjab, Peshawar in KPK, Quetta, in
Balochistan receive more rainfall

Advantages of western depression rainfall:

 Provide water for rabi crops (wheat, oil seeds, pulses, barley)
 Reduce in air pollution and dust

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  Provide water to rivers and reservoirs
 Provide water barani farming areas
 Snowfall in northern areas due to low temperature attracts tourists

Disadvantages of western depression rainfall:

 Light shower rainfall doesn’t fulfill the demands of rabi crops’]

 Snowfall in northern areas due to low climatic temperature and high altitude
 Heavy snowfall in northern areas forced the people to stay at home
 Roads are blocked in northern areas due to heavy snowfall
 Damages due to landslides and avalanches
 Covers the grazing field with snow in northern areas (so no fodder for livestock)
 Livestock farmers need to shift their livestock (goats and sheep) to lower areas (transhumance)

Difference in Monsoon and Western Depression

Monsoon Western Depression

Timings July to September December to March

Origin Winds start from Indian Ocean Winds starts from Mediterranean Sea
Journey Enters into Pakistan after crossing Enters into Pakistan after crossing Iran and
India and Bangladesh Afghanistan
Rainfall Causes heavy shower rainfall Causes light shower rainfall
Areas of Rainfall Brings rainfall north eastern and Brings rainfall to western and north western
southern parts (Punjab, Sindh) highland areas

Convectional Currents & Thunderstorms:

 Pre-monsoon (April-June) and post-monsoon (October-November) season

 Mainly causing strong thunderstorms at start of summer along with dust and hail storms
 Sun radiations during summer causes to increase in temperature evapotranspiration
 Hot winds rise during summer creates vacuum (less air pressure)
 low temperature on higher altitude (1600 ft higher) leads to condensation and causes rainfall
 Winds from surrounding (high pressure area) blow towards low air pressure areas
 These fast winds pick dust cause dust storms
 Mostly causes rainfall in central parts of KPK and northern parts of upper Indus plain
 No convectional current rainfall in lower Indus plain and coastal areas
 Convectional Currents doesn’t take place in the south due to high temperature inversion layer above

Relief rainfall:
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  Mainly occurs in the northern and western mountain areas
 Winds move upward during summers carries moisture
 Air moves up cooled down causes condensation and rainfalls on wind-ward side.
 Other side of the mountain (leeward side) receive no rainfall
 Leeward side called rain shadow area.
 Murree and the areas of Kakul (Abotabad) receive more relief rainfall
 Gilgit and Chitral in rain shadow areas receive low annual rainfall

Tropical Cyclone:

 Tropical cyclones are generated in Oceans (on equator between tropic of cancer and tropic of
Capricorn) due to low pressure that produces strong circular winds
 These causes heavy rainfall and fast winds at coastal areas
 These stormy winds cause destruction at coast
 These fast winds and heavy shower rainfall causes loss of lives and destruction of settlements and
loss of agricultural production
 Winds starts form Arabian Sea hardly reaches at coastal areas of Pakistan (once in few years)
 Unreliable and ineffective source of rainfall

Sources of rainfall in different Climatic Zones:

Climatic Zones Source of Rainfall

Highland climate zone  Relief rainfall

 Monsoon rainfall
 Convectional currents (thunderstorms)
 Western depressions
Lowland climate zone  Monsoon rainfall
 Convectional currents (in northern Punjab)
 Western depression (in northern Punjab)
Coastal climate  Monsoon rainfall
 Western depression rainfall (Makran coast)
 Tropical cyclones
Arid climate  Little rainfall from monsoon
 Little rainfall from western depression

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Factors effect the amount of rainfall for climatic variations:

 Relief rainfall in the northern and western mountains only due to high altitude.
 Monsoon winds cause more rainfall in the northern areas and northern Punjab and decreases towards
south.
 Western depressions brings more rainfall in western areas of Pakistan and decreases towards east
and south
 Convectional current brings more rainfall to northern Punjab and mountains in KPK
 High temperature in central Pakistan cause more convectional currents /thunderstorms
 Convectional Currents doesn’t take place in the south during summer due temperature inversion
layer
 Tropical cyclone brings destruction and heavy rainfall in the coastal areas.

Effectiveness of rainfall:

 Monsoon rainfall varies in amount, timing and distribution

o High rainfall in northern mountains and northern Punjab
o Less rainfall in lower Indus plain and coastal areas
 Generally ineffective and unreliable rainfall
 Heavy monsoon causes surface to run off and floods and little absorption of rain by land
 High temperature during summers casing more evapo-transpiration
 Crops planning is difficult due to amount and timings
 Western depression rainfall is not sufficient to fulfill the demand of rabi crops

Floods:

Causes:

 Heavy monsoon rainfall during summers

 Melting of snow during summer season
 Cutting of trees on foothills
 Dam failure to store extra water
 Failure to strengthen or higher the embankments of rivers

Effects of floods:

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  Damages to crops, livestock and infrastructure (roads, railways, bridges, power supply,
communication lines)
 Damages to crops leads to food shortage
 Fast flowing water causes soil erosion
 Outbreak of diseases e.g. cholera, malaria. Typhoid etc.
 Suspension of supply of raw material to industries due to destruction roads and railways and bridges
 Extra spending of government over relief activities and rehabilitation

Measures to reduce the floods:

 Strengthen and raise the embankments of rivers

 Building of more dams
 Raise the height of dams
 Discourage deforestation on foothills
 Planting more trees on foothills
 Improving weather forecasting and flood warning system
 Evacuate the people to save the loss of lives
 Improving the relief (rescue) and rehabilitation services
 Publicizing flood warnings through radio, tv and newspapers

Benefits of flood:

 Return nutrients to soil

 Increase the fertility of soil so good production of crops
 Ground water table rises
 More production of inland and marine fisheries due to availability of more nutrients
 More production of HEP

Storms:

 Three types of storms occurs in Pakistan

o Thunder storms
o Dust or sand storms
o Tropical cyclones
 Thunder storm usually occurs in northern hilly regions and northern Punjab during summers due to
high temperature at day time.
 Dust storm creates due to low air pressure when strong winds blow from surrounding to fill vacuum.
It is common in region adjoining deserts such as lower Punjab, Upper Sindh and parts of Balochistan
 Tropical cyclones from the Arabians Sea can also affect the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.

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Drought:

Causes:

i) Natural Causes:
 Unreliable and variability of monsoon rainfall
 Hot temperature during summers causes more evaporation of water
ii) Human factors:
 Deforestation on foothills causes surface to run-off and decrease in transpiration
 Overgrazing of land by livestock leads to soil erosion
 Poor management of water resources (unfair distribution of water among provinces,
water pollution, loss of water due to seepage)

Types of Drought:

 Permanent Drought: serious shortage of rain make difficult to grow crops without irrigation. e.g.
Thar , Cholistan and Kharan Desert areas.

 Seasonal Drought: occurs in areas with well defined rainy and dry seasons. e.g. Potwar Plateau and
southern Punjab

 Invisible Drought: occurs due to water deficiency as it is not enough for crop production. It reduces
crop yield.

 Unpredictable drought: it is the result of abnormally low rainfall and occurs in the which have
humid climate.

Effects of Drought on Physical environment:

 Desertification of fertile areas due to soil erosion and dust storms

 Drying of water channels (rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs)
 Drastic effect of fisheries
 Lower the ground water table

Effects of Drought on human environment:

 Food shortage for the growing population causes malnutrition

 Migration of effected people to other places which break up rural social set-up
 Many people forced to live nomadic life due shortage of food and water
 Death of livestock due to shortage of water and fodder / grazing fields
 Shortage of raw-material for agro-based industries (textile, sugar, flour)
 Reduce the exports and increase in imports leads to the devastation of the economy

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Drought Management:

 Water shortage schemes

o Building of more reservoirs
o Irrigation canals to supply water dry regions
o Planting more trees
 Uses of technology
o Installing desalination plants to use sea water
o Reclaiming / purify the water to reuse it
o Using drought resistant variant crops which require less water
 Planning and management of water resources:
o Resolving inter-provincial disputes over the distribution of water
o Conservation of water
o Save the water resources from pollution

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