[SIR UMAR KHAN DAWAR (0325-2512225)] 1

Climate

Q) What is the difference between climate and weather?

Climate relates to weather conditions over a long period of time i.e. 30 years.
Weather refers to atmospheric conditions of any place for a short period of time.

Factors affecting climate

Latitude and angles of the sun’s rays:

As the Earth circles the sun, the tilt of its axis causes changes in the angle of which sun’s rays contact the
earth and hence changes the daylight hours at different latitudes. Polar regions experience the greatest
variation, with long periods of limited or no sunlight in winter and up to 24 hours of daylight in the summer.

Elevation or Altitude:
Normally, climatic conditions become colder as altitude increases. “Life zones” on a high mountain reflect the
changes, plants at the base are the same as those in surrounding countryside, but no trees at all can grow
above the timberline. Snow crowns the highest elevations.

Ocean Currents:
Certain ocean currents have different temperatures. Warm ocean currents warm the air above it, which warms
the coast. Cold ocean currents cool the air above it, which cools the coast. This helps keep the coast at a
consistent temperature.
(See Maritime affect & Continental affect)

Maritime effect
• Large ocean bodies affect
climate of coastal areas.
• Causes smaller annual
temperature range. Continental effect
• Coastal areas: results in • Continental surface affecting
cooler summer and warmer climate of inland areas.
winters. • Causes larger annual
Season Summer Winter temperature range.
Temperature Air over Air over • Located further away from the
the sea is the sea is
cooler warmer sea = therefore temperatures
than air than air are not influenced by the
over the over the seawater.
land land Results: warmer summers and
Reason Land Sea
heats up cools
colder winters.
quickly more
while sea slowly
heats up than land
slowly

Wind and air masses:

(a) Heated ground causes air to rise which results in lower air pressure. As it rises it cools and descends to
the ground resulting in high air pressure. This cycle repeats, creating wind. These air masses absorb the
climate of the air below it.
(b) Prevailing wind patterns
Winds that blow from the sea often bring rain to the coast and dry weather to inland areas.

Surface of the earth / The shape of the land ('relief'):

The amount of sunlight that is absorbed or reflected by the surface determines how much atmospheric
heating occurs. Darker areas, such as heavily vegetated regions, tend to be good absorbers; lighter areas,
such as snow and ice-covered regions, tend to be good reflectors. The ocean absorbs and loses heat more
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slowly than land. Its waters gradually release heat into the atmosphere, which then distributes heat around the
globe.

Climate can be affected by mountains. Mountains receive more rainfall than low lying areas because as air is
forced over the higher ground it cools, causing moist air to condense and fall out as rainfall.
The higher the place is above sea level the colder it will be. This happens because as altitude increases, air
becomes thinner and is less able to absorb and retain heat. That is why you may see snow on the top of
mountains all year round.

he Topography of an area can greatly influence our climate. Mountain ranges are natural barriers to air
movement.

Climatically, Pakistan can be divided into 4 zones.

Highland Climate:
• This region includes Northern, North Western and Western highlands. (Northern and Western
mountains)
• Winters are long, cold and snowy on higher altitudes.
• Temperature falls with increase in altitude.
• Heights over 4500m are covered with snow throughout the year. Temperature remains below 0°C.
• Valleys (2000-2500m) experience cool temperature below 5°C.
• Western depressions bring rainfall to the area. Precipitation is also in the form of snow. Rainfall
decreases from North to South.
• Blowing of cool winds makes the weather chilly.
• January – coolest month.
• Summers are mild to warm.
• Summers temperature increases moving from Northern mountains to Western mountains.
• June – hottest month.
• Temperature does not normally exceed 38°C.
• Monsoon winds bring rainfall to the region. Rainfall is variable.
Lowland Climate:
• This region includes whole of the Indus Plain.
• It has an arid and extreme climate.
• Winters are mild.
• Temperature on average drops as less as 10°C.
• Winters last for 3 months.
• Limited rainfall is received by Western depressions.
• Summers are not only hot but long.
• The mean maximum temperature in hottest month (June) rises up to 18°C and above at all stations.
• Extreme temperature recorded at some places i.e Sibi and Jacobabad.
• Days are particularly hot.
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• Monsoon brings rainfall (July to September).

• Rainfall decreases towards South.
• Summers – aridity prevails.
Coastal Climate:
• This region includes the whole of Sindh coast and Makran coast.
• The climate is dominated by sea breezes throughout the year.
• The temperature at sea and on the land is different due to unequal heating of land and water by the
sun. Because both absorb and lose heat at different rates.
• In winters, the land loses heat quickly and becomes cold, while the ocean is still warmer. Thus, warm
breeze from ocean makes the temperature of the coastal area milder.
• In summers, the coastal areas get cool breeze from the ocean, thus, moderating the temperature to
warm, while the rest of the country experiences hot temperature.
• Rainfall is scanty throughout the year. Sindh coast gets rain in summers from Monsoon.
While Makran coast gets rain in winters from Western depressions.
Arid Climate:
• This region includes South-Western Balochistan (Kharan desert), and South-Eastern desert (Thar).
• Climate is dry and hot.
• Hot, dusty winds prevail from May to September.
• Extreme heat; dryness and dust storms are the main features.
• Temperature in summers exceeds 38°C.
• South-Western Balochistan gets rain from Western depressions in winters.
• South-Eastern desert gets rain from Monsoons in summers.

Characteristics of 4 Seasons

Winter: (Mid December-March)

• Temperature: is low in most of the areas.
• Temperate conditions in coastal areas, mild to warm temperature during winters.
• Rainfall: Western depressions brig some amount of rainfall to Northern and Western areas of
Pakistan.
• Rainfall decreases from North to South.
• In Northern areas, precipitation is also in the form of snow.
Early Summers: (April-June)
• High temperature from 32°C-53°C.
• Temperate conditions in coastal areas, mild to warm.
• General aridity, less rainfall.
• Thunderstorms bring some rainfall to Northern Punjab and Peshawar.
• Low pressure system begins to develop, to attract Monsoon winds.
Late Summers: (July-September)
• Mean monthly temperature exceeds 35°C.
• Heavy rainfall in Northern Punjab due to main system of Monsoon winds from Bay of Bengal.
• Less rainfall in Southern Punjab and Sindh due to secondary system of Monsoon winds.
• Very less/no rainfall in Western mountains and Balochistan.
• Low pressure develops in Punjab and Sindh.
Post Monsoon: (October-Mid December)
• Fall of temperature from 18°C to 5°C.
• General dryness persists.
• Very little rainfall.
• No active wind system present.
• High pressure begins to develop.
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Sources of Rainfall in Pakistan

Monsoon Winds (June-September)

Q) How do Monsoon winds develop?
• Due to high temperature, hot winds rises, to create a low air pressure region over the sub-continent.
• Winds from high air pressure region (Arabian sea) are attracted towards land.
• Monsoon winds touch the coastal area of Sind, causing little rainfall.
• Main system develops in Bay of Bengal.
• Monsoon winds, after travelling into Bengal and India (causing rains) enter Pakistan from the East.
The primary Monsoon winds entering from East cause rainfall in Northern Punjab and Himalayas.
The secondary Monsoon wind system enters from South Punjab, causing rain there and in Sindh.
Rainfall is also experienced in parts of NWFP. Rainfall decreases from North to South.

Monsoon winds

Western Depressions (December-March) are cyclonic winds that develop in Mediterranean Sea in Europe.
• After travelling across many countries, they enter Pakistan from Afghanistan and Iran.
• The winds enter Pakistan from the West and thus, cause most rainfall in North and North Western
Pakistan.
• The winds then travel South.
• However, rainfall decreases from North to South.
• The Western coast of Pakistan (Makran coast) also receives little rain from Western depressions.
Convectional Currents (May and October-November)
• At the start of summers, hot air rises up, which also contains a high moisture content.
• When air reaches higher altitude, condensation takes place.
• This causes rainfall, often as thunderstorms.
• Strong winds may accompany dust as well.
• North and North Western areas receive convectional currents.
• Southern areas of Pakistan do not receive convectional rainfall due to temperature inversion layer.
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Convectional rainfall Temperature inversion layer

Relief Rainfall
• In relief rainfall, air is lifted up by a mountain, scarp edge or slope.
• As the wind rises, it is chilled at an elevation and condensation takes place.
• Followed by rainfall.

Relief or Orographic rainfall

Tropical Cyclones
• May also bring a few hours of very heavy rainfall with destructive winds to the coastal areas.
• However, these occur very rarely in Pakistan.
• This is a very unreliable source of rainfall.

Climate related questions

Q) Explain the importance of the arrival of the monsoon to people who live and work in urban areas. (4)
[June 2011]
Ans) Benefits:
Climate became pleasant provide better living and working conditions.
Reduced air pollution and dust from atmosphere.
Provides water for drinking, gardens and live stock.
Problems:
May cause flooding
Crops washed away
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Roads damaged
Harms property
People cannot reach working place due to heavy rain so decreases production of country.

Q) Why western depressions are more useful for agriculture than monsoon?
Ans) Monsoon rainfall varies in timing, amount and distribution occurs in heavy showers so it is absorbed in
soil and mostly water drains off.
Evapo-transpiration rate is high in summer.

While rain due to western depressions occurs in light showers, absorbed by soil. Evapo-transpiration rate is
low in winter. Western depression is useful for Rabbi Crops. Monsoon is useful if water is stored in dams and
barrages.

Q) What are advantages and disadvantages of winter rainfall in northern areas? (6) [June 2011]
Ans) Advantages:
Winter rainfall provides water in rivers and fills reservoirs. Provide water for irrigation and hydro -electricity
production. Water became available for Rabi crops. Winter rain is in light showers so absorbed in soil.
Snowfall increases tourism. Later melting of this snow provides water in rivers on melting.
Problems:
Mostly snow falls in winter, rivers and lakes are frozen, temperature is too cold for growth of crops and plants
may cause floods, land sliding, roads are closed or became slippery. Farmers are forced to adopt
transhumance way of livestock.

Q) Why does snowfall instead of rain in winter? (1)

Ans) Low climatic temperature and high altitude of northern mountains and western mountains are the main
reasons.

Q) Name three climatic hazards that may occur in Pakistan. (3)

Ans) Floods, draughts, dust storms and thunder storms.

River Floods

Excessive water in rivers that overflows the banks is known as river flood.
• Indus river and its tributaries overflow their banks almost every year.
• However, serious floods occur every 7 to 8 years.

Q) Why do rivers flood?

What are the causes of floods?
• Melting of snow during summers.
• Heavy Monsoon rainfall (in summers).
• Cutting of trees on the foothills increases surface runoff.
• Failure to strengthen or heighten embankments alongside rivers.
Q) What can be done to reduce the flood risk?
• Planting trees on the foothills to check the flow of running water.
• Enlarging the river channel so that it can hold more water.
• Building embankments on either side of the channel to prevent the spread of floodwater.
• Building extra channels to take floodwater away from towns.
• Building reservoirs on rivers to store water.
• Preventing building in areas where flooding is most likely.
• Publishing flood warnings through radio, TV and newspaper.
• Evacuation of flooded areas.
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Q) What are the effects of flooding on different people?

• The farmers are not able to use the land until the water has drained away.
• Destruction of crops.
• Death of livestock.
• Houses will be cut off from shops and services.
• Mud houses and huts could be damaged.
• Spread of water-borne diseases.
• Roads and railway tracks damaged.
• Lines of communication disrupted.
Q) What are the benefits of floods?
• Floods return nutrients to the land.
• Floods distribute rich sediments and refresh streams.
It thus, increases the fertility of the land by spreading new layer of alluvium.
• Allowing rivers and streams to flood naturally can prevent more serious damage (flooding)
downstream.
• A relatively high level of fish production in Arabian Sea is attributed to nutrients in Indus river system.
• Floods also recharge ground water supply.

Drought

• Drought is a natural hazard.

• It is the general lack of moisture and rainfall.
• It is followed by famine in worst conditions.

Q) What are the causes of drought?

Natural Factors:
• Unreliability of Monsoon winds.
• Global climate change.
• Dry and hot wind + high temperature reduces moisture in air.
Human Factors:
• Deforestation on the foothills of mountains reduces rainfall.
• Mismanagement of water resources, seepage of unlined canals.
• Over grazing of land.
• Dispute with India over Indus water treaty.
Q) What are the effects of drought?
• Loss of water in rivers and lakes.
• It brings famine to the affected area.
• Also causes disease.
• Death to animals and humans.
• Malnutrition.
• Also affects the economy of the area.