Climate of Pakistan

Chapter 2
Environment of Pakistan

GRADE: IG 1
By Ma’am Laley Erum
 Content
Weather and Climate

Sources of Rainfall in Pakistan

Climatic Zones of Pakistan

Lifestyle & economic activities in different climatic Zones

Floods and Drought

Maps and graphs reading.

Past Paper question bank

By the end of the lesson we should be able to:

• Explain the difference between climate and weather.

• Describe the climate of Pakistan
• Describe the various climatic zones of Pakistan
• Tell what are the sources of rainfall in Pakistan.
 Climate and Weather
Climate:
Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively
long periods 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)
 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
It is the Quantity of water, expressed
in inches, precipitated as rain, snow,
hail, or sleet in a specified area and
time interval.

The rainfall in Pakistan is highest

in northern areas decreases
towards south
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.
Monsoon is undoubtedly the principal contributor (about 65% to 70%) of the
total annual rainfall. Therefore people of Pakistan, by and large, take a sigh of
relief when they see enough amount of precipitation pouring down from the
skies and they get worried when come across the deficient rainfall.
 Western disturbance
• 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
• The entry of Western disturbance is associated with cloudy skies, higher night
temperatures, and 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
Task 1:

Q1. Identify the main

processes taking place in
the diagram (3 marks)
Q2. Explain how rain is
being created in the
diagram (5 marks)
Climatic zones of Pakistan
 Region Highland zone: Areas

Northern, north Chitral, Murree,

western and western Muzzafarabad, Drosh,
highlands. Climate
Quetta, Kalat, Parachinar,
Waziristan

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.
 Life and Economic activities
 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
 Region Arid zone Areas

South-eastern Kharan Desert south-

desert, and south- western Baluchistan,
western Baluchistan Climate south-eastern desert.
.

 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
Baluchistan, 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.
 Region Lowland Zone – Areas

Semi arid to arid

Indus plain except Islamabad, Sialkot,
the Coastal areas. Climate Sargodha, Multan,
Jacobabad and Sukkur

 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
 Region Coastal zone Areas

Indus Delta, Karachi Climate

Karachi, Jiwani, Pasni,
and Makran coast. Ormara and Gwadar

 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 Baluchistan.
 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
  The areas that lie

Altitude and temperature

near the equator

Continental effect
 Southern Pakistan encounter more
Latitudinal effect

receives more amounts of amounts of sun rays

sun rays as compared to than the areas that
don’t lie near the
Northern Pakistan.  The areas that are
equator.
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
Cloud cover and temperature

Latitude and angle of sun

 In daytime cloud cover
reduces the amount of
heat by reflecting the  The sun rays don’t fall at the same
heat back to the space angle everywhere.
but in night time it traps  During summer, the northern
the out going heat and hemisphere is tilted towards the sun
because of this the and the northern areas of Pakistan
cloudy nights are warm. 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.
 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
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
 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

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.
 Drought
Drought is an extended period when a region notes a deficiency in its water
supply. It 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 order to store
water.
The areas that receive heavy rainfall can utilize the water through perennial
canal system.
 More projects are required in order to meet 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.
 Task 2:

Q1. Identify the main

processes taking place in the
diagram (3 marks)
Q2. Explain how rain is being
created in the diagram
(5 marks)