Climate of Pakistan

Weather
The condition of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, such as the
temperature, and if there is wind, rain, sun, etc.
Climate
is the general weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period, generally 30
years.
Climate Graph
 Climatic Zones
Generally speaking; any of the geographical zones loosely divided according to prevailing
climate and latitude

Highland Lowland Coastal Arid Climate

Climate Climate Climate
Highland climate
Temperature
Winters are long, cold
conditions also vary
and snowy and the At some places river
from North to west
summers remain short and torrents freeze
depending on the
and mild
altitude

Rainfall in the Northern

Temperature Rainfall is normally Mountains is the
decreases from North associates with highest in the highland
to South altitude. zone as compared to
Western Mountains
Influence of climate on People
People are involved
During winter in indoor activities Most of the Pathan
farming is not like carpet weaving, tribes still live as
possible. embroidery work, nomadic herdsmen.
pottery etc.

Heavy rainfall leads

Due to heavy
Transhumance is to land sliding that
snowfall, roads get
practiced too destroys roads,
blocked
bridges, houses
Lowland climate (semi-arid to arid)

It has extreme
climate with hot In the daytime,
summer, cool summers are
winter, and summer extremely hot.
monsoon rainfall.

Thunderstorms are
The amount of also common in the
rainfall differs from north and north-
north to south west of the Indus
Plain
 Coastal Climate
Humidity level is
Sea breeze and land This MARITIME
moderately high,
breeze dominate the influence keeps the Mean monthly
exceeding more than
climate throughout daily temperature temperature is 32oC
50% from April to
the year range low.
September.

Makran coast
During October, dry receives most of its
May, June and
winds from the south- rainfall in winter, while
October are the
eastern desert Sindh coast receives
hottest months.
dominate the climate from summer
monsoon
Maritime Influence
Arid / Desert Climate

Hot dusty winds prevail Most of the scanty rainfall

It is markedly dry and almost continuously from in the Southwestern
hot, mid-May to mid- Baluchistan takes place
September. during the winter season.

The average monthly

These areas receive only
temperature in summer
100mm of annual rainfall
rises to over 38oC
Influence of climate on People

People have to
wear thick and
There is scarcity Agriculture can Industries cannot
rough clothes as
of water not be practiced be established
protection from
hot winds.

Infrastructure
Threat to livestock
Some tribes live cannot be
due to shortage of
nomadic lifestyle developed
water and fodder
effectively
Influence of latitude on climate
The further north (from the
equator) the cooler it is /
north is cold;

The closer to the equator

the warmer it is / southern
Pakistan is warmer / south
Pakistan is hot;

In the south / the closer to

the equator the more
convectional rainfall / more
thunderstorms;

More concentrated / direct

rays of sunshine / higher
angle of sun nearer equator
(so higher temperatures).
Factors Affecting Temperature Of Pakistan

Latitudinal Effect

The areas closer to the

equator receive relative
direct rays of the sun
resulting in extreme
temperature, while the
located away from the
sun are less hot due to
angle of the sun
Altitude

With less air to absorb

heat at higher altitude;
there is an average
drop of 6.5oC in the
temperature for each
1000 meter increase
Cloud Cover
During daytime, cloud
cover can reduce
temperature to some
extent, but at night the
cloud cover traps the
outgoing heat making
it warm
Atmospheric Pressure and Winds
The air around you has weight, and it presses against everything it touches. That pressure is
called atmospheric pressure, or air pressure. It is the force exerted on a surface by the air
above it as gravity pulls it to Earth.
Sources of Rainfall
Monsoon Winds

The Western Depression

Convectional Currents

Relief Rainfall

Tropical Cyclones
Causes of South West Monsoon

Sun heats up in Rain bearing

(tropical) continents Low pressure winds push
(land) more quickly attracts cool, further inland
than the surrounding moist air from causing
oceans (water) the sea (heavy) rain.

Warm air Wind travels

rises from sea /
Arabian Sea /
Bay of Bengal
The Western Disturbance
These are the cyclones which
originate in the Mediterranean
Sea, travel across Afghanistan
and Iran and then Reach the
western areas of Pakistan

Rainfall through this occur

from December to March
Convectional Currents
• During summer, hot air rises up
containing high moisture content.
• It cools as it rises upward, condensing
and forming rain-bearing clouds
• Strong winds accompanying storms
pics up dust as well
• Only the northern and north-western
Ares of Pakistan receive rainfall from
convectional currents
• Southern Pakistan is deprived of this
rain system due to temperature
inversion layer.
Relief Rainfall
It occurs where moist
unstable air moves up
a mountain or scarp
edge, and is chilled.
This chilling causes
heavy condensations
and precipitation on
the windward side
Tropical Cyclones
Originate over the Arabian Sea in
South Asia and adjoining areas

These can be quite destructive if

hit the coastal areas
Effects of Tropical Cyclones on Coastal
Cities such as Karachi
[Flash] floods / Damage to / loss of
Widespread Lives lost / injuries /
blocked drains / homes / belongings
damage people missing
sewers / slums

Loss to local
Damage to transport Damage to
economy – e.g.
– e.g. roads, railways, Damage to services workplaces / industry
through damaged
ports, airports so – e.g. schools / - e.g. the fishing
industry / cost of
people unable to get hospitals / clinics industry destroyed,
rebuilding / loss of
to work disrupts exports
jobs

Damage to Shortage /
Damage to
communication – e.g. contamination –
transmission lines /
lack of telecom / drinking water /
power stations /
telephone lines / food causing
lack of power
internet / social media disease to spread
Floods Normal Conditions
Floods are events where
water overflows onto land
that is typically dry. This can
occur when there is a large
amount of rain, rapid snow
or ice melt, a blast of water
onto a coastline during a Older river channel and flood plain sediments

storm, or the failure of

Flood Conditions
manmade infrastructures,
such as dams or levees.

Older river channel and flood plain sediments

 Causes of Floods

Natural Human
Failure to
Short capacity
Melting of Cutting of strengthen
Heavy of dams to
Snow during trees on the embankments
Monsoon store extra
summer foothills or raise their
water
heights
 Livestock/crops/farm equipment/fisheries lost (causing
loss of income)

Factories/workplaces temporarily closed (causing

damage/unemployment/loss of production/income/profit)

Local economy Electricity supply disrupted (factories closed)

Build up of silt behind dams (less water storage/effect

on HEP production)

Alluvium/nutrients deposited by flood water (fertilizes

Impact of Floods soil)

Bridges washed away (limiting ability to trade)

Roads/railways destroyed/damaged/flooded (making

Transport Links journeys longer/slower/more dangerous)

Rivers become unnavigable (communications

cut/villages cut off)
Effects of Floods
Benefits of Floods

Floods deposit nutrients (alluvium) to the land when these cover the land.

Flooded fields can be used for rice cultivation.

Ground water supplies recharge

During flood times, fish production increases as people avoid fishing in these days.
Drought
Drought is an extended period of
unusually dry weather when there is
not enough rain.

The lack of precipitation can cause a

variety of problems for local
communities, business and even for
state.

These effects can lead to devastating

economic and social disasters, such
as famine, forced migration away
from drought-stricken areas, and
conflict over remaining resources.
 Farmer may have to spend on Irrigation

Less or no crops grown

Agriculture
Loss of livestock

Farmers may look for other professions for survival

Less Raw material for processing

Impact of Drought
Less production

Less sale / trade

Industry Less profit

Downsizing of plants

Unemployment

Less Tax collection for State