CHAPTER # 2

CLIMATE
 DIFFERENCE B/W WHEATHER &
CLIMATE
• Weather: It refers to daily changes in atmospheric
conditions (temperature , rainfall ,humidity and pressure )
for a short period of time locally.

• Climate : The generalization of day to day weather

conditions of a particular area/region over a long period of
time.
 PAKISTAN CLIMATIC ZONES
• Pakisatn is divided into four climatic zones.
• Highlands Climate
• Lowland Climate
• Coastal Climate
• Arid Climate
 HIGHLAND CLIMATE
• This zone includes north and northwestern mountains of Pakistan.
• Winters are long , cold and snowy.
• Summers are short and mild.
• Rainfall is highest in northern highlands than the western highlands.
• Northern highlands receive more rainfall from summer monsoon while the
western highlands receive form western depression.
 LOWLAND CLIMATE
• It includes Indus plain areas except of coastal areas.
• Summers are very hot. Winters are cold.
• It receives rainfall from summer monsoon.(July-Aug )
• Northern Punjab receives rainfall from western depression.
 COASTAL CLIMATE

• It includes Sindh and Makran coastal areas.

• Sindh coastal areas receive rainfall from summer monsoon while Makran
coastal areas receive its rainfall from western depression.
• This zone experience less average rainfall.
• Maritimes influence keeps the daily range of temperature moderate in
summer & Winter both.
 MARITIME INFLUENCE
• Maritime climates experience generally cool summers and mild
winters,with a much smaller annual temperature range.
• This is because water has a much higher heat capacity than soil and rock.
Seawater takes a long time to warm up in summer , but once heated it
retains its energy long after the surrounding land has cooled down,
helping to moderate the climate.
 ARID CLIMATE
• Extreme climatic conditions are found here.(cold & hot)
• Kharan Desert receives rainfall from western depression.
• Thar Desert receives rainfall from summer monsoon.
 SEASONS OF PAKISTAN
Pakistan has four seasons that can be distinguished as follow.
• Winter ( Mid –December to March).
• Early Summer ( April to June)
• Late Summer ( July to September)
• Post monsoon (October to Mid-December)
 TEMPERATURE
• Temperature varies from one part of the globe to another. These
differences are caused by number of factors.
• Those parts of the globe that receive direct, vertical rays of sunlight
experience higher temperature than those which receive slanting rays.
• Pakistan therefore records high temperature and is counted among
the hotter countries of the world.
 Seasonal and regional variations in
temperature of Pakistan
HIGHLAND ZONE
Northern Mountains & North Western
Areas: Gilgit, Murree, Muzaffarabad,drosh
Season:
Winter Very cold- Cool
Reason: Low angle of sun, height of the land.
Summer: Mild – Warm
Reason: Transfer of heat from central Pakistan .High angles of sun.
 LOWLAND ZONE
• Areas: Islamabad, Sialkot, Sargodha, Multan, Jacobabad & Sukker.
• Seasons:
• Winter: Cold-Mild
• Reason: Low angle of sun, Continental effect.
• Summer: Hot
• Reason: Continental effects , High angle of Sun.
 COASTAL ZONE
• Areas: Karachi,Jiwani,Pasni,Gawader.
• Seasons:
• Winter: Mild
• Reason Maritime influence occasionally quetta winds bring short spells of cold.
• Summer: Warm – Hot
• Reason: Influence of Arabian sea and at times wind from rajasthan, High angle
of sun,cloud cover in July & August.
 ARID ZONE
• Areas: Kharan Desert ,South – western Baluchistan ,South Eastern desert.
• Seasons:
• Winter: Cool - Mild
• Reason Low angle of sun.
• Summer: Hot
• Reason: High angle of sun , Lack of cloud cover.
 FLOODS
• Flood is a temporary covering of land by water which is dry. They can be caused by
variety of factors like Heavy monsoon rainfall accompanied with melting of snow and
ice in glaciers causing excess of water in rivers, dam or barrage failure, unusually high
tides in coastal areas and by a tsunami The indus tributaries overflow almost every
year but only sometimes the flood risk is serious.
Floods can also be caused by following human reasons
● Deforestation
● failure to heighten or strengthen embankments
● poor medical and communication facilities in aftermath of disaster
● inadequate warning systems to allow people time for escape
 BENEFITS OF FLOOD

● restoring underground water supplies,

● filling reservoirs of dam
● makes the soil fertile by alluviam deposits
● increases fish production in the sea and land
 Reducing Effects of Floods
● Dams could be built to contain and regulate the flow of water and prevent flash
floods
● Advanced warning systems should be installed in flood prone areas to warn
people to get out before it’s too late
● Medical and transport facilities be regularly updated and checked
● Embankments and levees should be heightened and strengthened
● afforestation and reafforestation projects should be carried out in Northern
Mountains to reduce run-off and thus reducing chances of flash floods.
 DROUGHTS

There are four types of droughts

● Permanent drought
Occurs when crop cultivation is highly dependent on irrigation only
● Seasonal drought
Occurs when rainy areas faces dry seasons for longer period then usual
● Invisible drought
Occurs when water deficiency reduces crop yield but does not destroy them
● Unpredictable drought
Caused by abnormally low rainfall in areas of humid climate
 EFFECTS

● Crop yields can be dramatically reduced and livestock production could fall (milk, eat etc).
This can raise prices of goods and affect price of exported goods making them uncompetitive
in international markets thus harming national interests
● Dust storms can occur, when drought hits an area suffering from desertification and erosion.
This can lead to siltation in reservoirs of dam, hampering electricity generation and weakening
dam’s foundation
● Habitat damage, affecting both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
● Malnutrition, dehydration and related diseases could affect millions
● Mass migration causing the increase in internal refugees or international refugees Caused by
abnormally low rainfall in areas of humid climate
• Reduced electricity production could occur as reduced water flow through hydroelectric
dams leads to low industrial production and less exports resulting in less foreign exchange
● Shortages of water for industries like (juice etc), which affects employment and GDP
● Social unrest may follow leading to instability, which can discourage foreign
investment thus local sectors may suffer from outdated machinery techniques etc
resulting in low production
● War could occur over natural resources, including lakes and fertile areas etc
● Wildfires can become common and can cause health hazard to people