Chapter 3: CLIMATE - PAKISTAN

INTRODUCTION
In much of Pakistan, the climate is tropical or subtropical, semi-arid or desert, but in the
north there are also: an area near the mountains which is quite rainy, a cold mountainous
area, and a frigid area on the peaks of the Himalayas.
In the cold half of the year, from late autumn to early spring, the north is reached by
weather fronts of Mediterranean origin, which cause rainfall in the lowlands and snowfall in
the mountains. In spring (i.e. March and April), the clash between air masses can cause
thunderstorms and strong winds. In summer, from July to mid-September, the country is
reached by an offshoot of the Indian monsoon, but in most of the country it is not able to
bring heavy rains, while it doesn't arrive at all in the western part. However, the warmest
months are those that precede the monsoon, especially June, which is very hot in plains
and hills, and up to quite high altitudes.
The monsoon has an irregular pattern: during some years, it may have an unusual force,
generating floods, while in other years, it doesn't even arrive. Rivers may overflow even at a
great distance from the area where the heaviest rainfall occurred, which typically happen in
the north. So, the great valley of the Indus and its tributaries may also be affected by
widespread flooding in the southern area, where normally it doesn't rain much.
The cycle called ENSO can affect the monsoon's performance: in La Niña years, rainfall is
heavier than normal, while El Niño brings drought.

Definitions
• Climate is a generalization of the day to day weather conditions over a long period of
time, usually over 30 years.
• Weather refers to the atmospheric conditions e.g. temperature, humidity, rainfall and
pressure of any place for a short period of time. It is often localized.
• Humidity is the amount of water vapor present in air.
• Condensation is the conversion of water vapors into liquid due to which clouds are
formed.
Temperature key Climate zones
• 40°C and above (very hot) • Highland climate
• 31°C - 39°C (hot) • Lowland climate (semi – arid)
• 21°C - 30°C (warm) • Coastal climate (humid)
• 10°C - 20°C (mild) • Arid climate (arid)
• 03°C - 09°C (cool)
• -5°C - 02°C (cold)
• Below -5°C (very cold)

Highland climate
Northern mountains Western mountains Semi – arid/lowland (UIP+ LIP +
PP)
1. Cold/very cold 1. Cold winters 1. Cool/cold winters
winters 2. Warm summers 2. Hot summers
2. Mild summers. 3. Winter 3. High monsoon rainfall
3. Rainfall in all rainfall/western 4. Dryness increases north to south
seasons (snow in depression 5. Large daily range
winter) 4. Large daily range
4. Large daily range
Humid/coastal climate
 Karachi coast Makran coast
1. Mild winters 1. Mild winters
2. Warm summers 2. Warm summers
3. Monsoon rainfall (Arabian sea) 3. Rainfall from winter depressions (from Iran)
4. Tropical cyclones 4. Tropical cyclones
5. Short daily range 5. Short daily range
Arid climate (Deserts e.g. Thar and Kharan)
1. Mild winters
2. Hot/very hot summers
3. Extreme aridity due to little rainfall
4. Large daily range
5. Dust storms

Latitude/angle of sun Altitude/height of land Distance from sea

1.Temperatures are 1.As height increases, Maritime influence Conditional influence
very high near equator temperature decreases (sea) (land)
2. Moving down/up the 2.As air is less dense so 1.Climate influenced 1.Land is not under
equator towards poles, holds less heat by sea gives low range sea influence is too far
temperature decreases 3.Heat radiated from the of temperature in from sea
3. As rays spread over surface decreases from summer and winter 2.Inland areas’
a larger area due to height 2.Places near coast temperature is high in
the low angle of sun 4.Fall of 5°C for every are cooled in summer summer
500m in height in dry or and warmed in winter 3.In winter, land gives
arid air like of Pakistan by sea as water off heat rapidly and so
absorbs and releases locations experience
heat slowly colder winters
Factors influencing temperature

Sources of rainfall in Pakistan

• Monsoon winds
• Western depression
• Convectional currents (causing thunderstorm)
• Tropical cyclones
• Relief
Monsoon winds
• Moisture bearing winds carrying rain
• Blow from Bay of Bengal and move from East to West
• After crossing Bangladesh and northern India, the tail end of the winds enter northern
Pakistan
• Across UIP towards northern areas – due to low pressure there
• Rise over land
• Moisture condenses
• So clouds are formed therefore heavy rainfall
• Some monsoon winds blow across south – east Pakistan from the Arabian Sea
• These are weak winds and have little effect
• However, sometimes an over – active monsoon system brings heavy monsoon rainfall
in Karachi
Causes of monsoon at Karachi
• Low pressure develops over land
• Draws in wind from high pressure are From the Arabian Sea
 • Moisture bearing/wet winds carrying rain/humid
• Rise over land
• Cools
• Moisture condenses
Importance of monsoon rainfall to people of urban areas
• Cooler – better working and living conditions due to pleasant climate
• Fresher – less air pollution, cleaner air
• Water supply for drinking, factories, market and gardens
Q: Explain why the lack of monsoon rainfall in southern Punjab and Sindh causes
problems for farmers.
• Poor crop growth
• Low profit/income
• Little or no other source of rain e.g. no western depressions, relief rainfall, etc.
• High evaporation/evapotranspiration – due to high temperatures
• Need for irrigation which is expensive
• Poor farmers cannot afford tube wells and other irrigation methods
• Can be soil erosion through blowing
Western depressions
• These are the cyclones that originate in the Mediterranean Sea
• They travel across Afghanistan and Iran
• They then reach western areas of Pakistan
• Bring winter monsoon during December to March
• Rise over land causing condensation
• So clouds are formed
• Quetta receives most of its rainfall through western depressions (coming from Iran)
Advantages and disadvantages of winter rainfall in northern Pakistan

Advantages Disadvantages
1. Fills reservoirs and rivers – so more 1. Many fall as snow so of little use
storage 2. This is because rivers/lakes are frozen
2. Water available for HEP production 3. Damage to environment – landslides,
3. Water for Barani crops avalanches, etc.
4. Water for rabi/winter crops/fruit trees 4. Damage to roads – blockage, slippery,
5. Water when everything else is frozen in etc.
northern areas 5. Silt collects in reservoirs/dams
6. Lighter form of rain – can suck in therefore 6. Difficulty meaning farmers must do
more ground water transhumance or they are to live a nomadic
7. Snow for tourism due to scenic beauty life

Convectional currents
• At the start and end of summer due to high temperatures
• Moisture evaporates from rivers/lakes/vegetation, etc.
• (moist) air rises
• Air cools as it rises
• Causes condensation of moisture – which causes rainfall often as thunderstorms
• Northern and north – western areas get this rainfall mainly in Peshawar and
Rawalpindi
• They are caused from April to June
• They are also caused from September to November
Tropical cyclones
• These may bring a few hours of very heavy rainfall with destructive winds to the coastal
areas
• Originate from Arabian Sea quite often but rarely reach coastal areas of Pakistan
• They are caused from April to June
• They are also caused from September to November

Q: Explain how storms such as these may affect industry and communications in
urban areas.
• Flooding/heavy rain
• Strong winds
• Lightning strikes
• Damage or closure of buildings, roads, bridges and airports
• Lack of deliveries
• Loss of production/work stops
• Labor cannot get to work
• Lack of experts/investors linked to airports being closed
• Loss of telecommunication
• Loss of power (electricity)
Relief rainfall
• Relates to height of a land
• Occurs where moist unstable air moves up after striking against a mountain side
• It is chilled on reaching a certain height
• This chilling causes heavy condensation and precipitation on the ‘wind ward’ side
• The leeward side (the other side of the mountain) receives sinking warm air and a dry
rain shadow area is usually formed
• Areas having high altitude receive this rainfall e.g. northern mountains

Feasibility of improving water supply to farmers in Punjab and Sindh

Advantages Disadvantages
1. Rainfall in monsoon season can be stored 1. Cost of reservoirs or canals
2. Snow melt from mountains 2. Cost of tube wells
3. Indus river system brings water from 3. Lack of reservoirs and barrages
highlands 4. Indus Water Treaty limits supply
4. Can make more storage of reservoirs of 5. Lower water table restricts ground water
dams and barrages 6. Water logging and salinity problems
5. Can build more canals 7. Cost of power supplies for pumps
6. Can use ground water and therefore more 8. Other constraints e.g. education, wastage
tube wells can be built and conflict between users, etc.

Effects of climate
highland zones Lowland zones (semi – Arid zones
arid) (Punjab, Sindh, etc.)
1. Stops growth of trees 1. Crops can be grown in 1. Very hot in summer and
2. Makes farming both summer and winter dry - not ideal for cultivation
impossible 2. Densely populated due to and habitation
3. Transhumance farming is bearable temperature 2. Nomadic life…
practiced 3. Monsoon rainfall suitable
4. Landslides & avalanches for Barani crops
 5. People forced to stay 5. Flood hazards 3. Karez system is practiced
indoors - cottage industry due to high evaporation in
Kharan desert
4. Thick clothes worn to
protect from hot winds
5. Frequent dust storms
6. Less drinking water

Hazards
Causes of floods
Natural Human
1. Melting of snow in summer 1. Cutting of trees on foothills increases
2. Heavy monsoon rainfall surface run – off
2. Failure to strengthen or heighten
embankments along river sides
3. Lack of storage facilities e.g. dams and
barrages
4. Siltation is caused

Effects of flooding
Positive Negative Precaution
1. More fertility of land 1. Farmers cannot practice 1. Planting trees to check the flow
through fresh alluvium agriculture of running water
2. Floods also recharge 2. Loss of lives & livestock 2. Enlarging river channels to hold
ground water supply 3. Destruction of crops more water
3. More fish in 4. Loss of food supplies 3. Building embankments on river
rivers/lakes 5. Loss of infrastructure sides to reduce overflow
6. Spread of water – borne 4. Building reservoirs on rivers to
diseases e.g. cholera store water
5. Preventing building in areas
where flooding is common - AFP

Droughts
Types
• Permanent: exists when crop cultivation is not possible e.g. Thal desert
• Seasonal: areas with well-defined rainy and dry seasons e.g. Potwar Plateau
• Invisible: is the result of a water deficiency that reduces crop yield but is not severe
enough to destroy them
• Unpredictable: is the result of abnormally low rainfall in areas which have humid
climates
Effects of drought
• Shortage of water
• Shortage of grazing grounds for livestock
• Crops may fail
• This may lead to food shortages
• Loss of lives due to starvation and thirst
• Loss of livestock
• Weak animals with low outputs
• Diseases e.g. of skin
• More rural – urban migration
Solutions
• More reservoirs to store water
• Desalination of salty water to increase the amount of fresh water for agriculture, etc.
• More plantations to reduce soil erosion and for more moisture in air for rainfall