Climate in Pakistan with respect to Temperature and Rainfall

Course code# BOT-718

Course title# Arid Zone Ecology

Submitted to: Dr. Yamin Bibi

Submitted by: Miss Maryam Khalid

Registration no.: 18-arid-2419

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 Climates of Pakistan with respect to temperature and rainfall

CONTENTS

1. Climate………………………………………………………………………………3
2. Climate of Pakistan………………………………………………………………….4
3. Temperature in Pakistan……………………………………………………………..5
4. Rainfall in Pakistan…………………………………………………………………..5
5. Climatic zones of Pakistan………………………………………………...…………6
 Highland zone………………………………………………………...………7
 Lowland zone…………………………………………………………………8
 Coastal zone………………………………………………..…………………9
 Arid zone…………………………..………………………………..………..10
6. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………....11
7. References………………………………………………………………….…………11

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 Climate of Pakistan
Climate:

Climate is the statistics of weather over long periods of time. It is measured by assessing the
patterns of variation in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation,
atmospheric particle count and other meteorological variables in a given region over long periods
of time.

Climate differs from weather, in that weather only describes the short-term conditions of these
variables in a given region.

A region's climate is generated by the climate system, which has five

components: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Cryosphere, Lithosphere, and Biosphere.

1. Atmosphere: An atmosphere from Greek atmos, meaning “vapour”, and sphaira,

meaning “sphere” is a layer or a set of layers of gases surrounding a planet or other material
body, that is held in place by the gravity of that body.

2. Hydrosphere: The hydrosphere from Greek hydor, meaning "water" and sphaira,

meaning "sphere" is the combined mass of water found on, under, and above the surface of
a planet, minor planet or natural satellite.

3. Cryosphere: The cryosphere from the Greek kryos, meaning "cold", "frost" or "ice" and

sphaira, meaning “ sphere” is those portions of Earth's surface where water is in solid form,
including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen
ground which includes permafrost.

4. Lithosphere: A lithosphere from Greek lithos meaning "rocky", and sphaira meaning

"sphere" is the rigid, outermost shell of a terrestrial-type planet, or natural satellite, that is
defined by its rigid mechanical properties.

5. Biosphere: The biosphere from Greek bios meaning "life" and sphaira meaning "sphere

also known as the ecosphere is the worldwide sum of all ecosystems. It can also be termed as
the zone of life on Earth, a closed system and largely self-regulating. The biosphere is the

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global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their
interaction with the elements of the lithosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Figure 1. Different Spheres of Earth

Climate of Pakistan:

Pakistan extends from 24° N to about 37° N. Its western border lies close to 62°E, its
northeastern border extends to about 74○E, while Kashmir extends to 80° E. Pakistan's
topographical features range from lofty mountains in the north to the coastal plains in the south.
Pakistan lies in the temperate zone. The climate is generally arid, characterized by hot summers
and cool winters, and wide variations between extremes of temperature at given locations. There
is little rainfall. For example, the coastal area along the Arabian Sea is usually warm, whereas
the frozen snow-covered ridges of the Karakoram Range and of other mountains of north are so
cold throughout year.

Pakistan has four seasons,

1. Cool and dry winter from December to February;
2. Hot and dry spring from March to May;
3. Summer or rainy season from June to September;
4. Retreating monsoon period of October and November.
The duration of these seasons varies somewhat according to location.

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Temperature in Pakistan:
The weather extremes in Pakistan include high and low temperatures, heaviest rainfall and
flooding. The highest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan is 53.5 °C which was recorded in
Mohenjo Daro, Sindh on 26 May 2010. It was not only the hottest temperature ever recorded
in Pakistan but also the hottest reliably measured temperature ever recorded on the continent
of Asia and the fourth-highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.
Sibbi (Baluchistan) Jacobabad (Sindh) and Multan (Punjab) are the hottest places of
Pakistan. The sun is the main source of temperature changes in the air. Those parts of the
Earth are warmer which receive direct vertical rays of the sunlight than those which receive
slanting rays.
Temperature is measure in 0C or 0F. The lines connect the areas having similar temperatures
are called Isotherms.
Types of Temperature are:
1. Mean Maximum Temperature
2. Mean Minimum Temperature
3. Diurnal or daily temperature
4. Annual Temperature
Reasons for Variation of Temperature in Pakistan: Temperatures vary due to Altitude,
Latitude, Oceanic influence and continental effects
 Latitudinal Effect: Pakistan Lies near the Tropic of Cancer therefore, it records
higher temperatures due to latitudinal effects.
 Altitudinal Effect: The mountains experience mild temperature in summer and very
cold in winter.
 Oceanic Influence: The coastal areas have moderate temperatures through the year
because of oceanic influence.
 Continental Effect: Terrestrial radiation of earth makes the temperatures high in
Indus plains and Baluchistan Plateau.
Rainfall in Pakistan:
Rainfall:
“The quantity of water, expressed in inches, precipitated as rain, snow, hail, or sleet in a
specified area and time interval is known as rainfall”.

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 The rainfall is measured by rain gauge in centimeters, inches or millimeters. The line marks
the areas experience same amount of precipitation is called Isohyets.
Only in a few northern areas humid conditions are found. The rainfall in Pakistan is highest
in northern areas decreases towards south.
Sources of rainfall in Pakistan are:
1. Monsoon winds
2. The Western Depression
3. Convectional Currents
4. Relief rainfall
5. Tropical cyclones
1. 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 is 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.
2. Western depressions: They 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.
3. 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 hotter then the
northern areas experience less rainfall because of temperature inversion layer.
4. Relief rainfall: It 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.
5. 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.
Climatic zones of Pakistan:
Climatic zones of Pakistan are:

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1. Highland zone
2. Lowland zone
3. Coastal zone
4. Arid zone

Figure 2. Four different climates of Pakistan represented as A, B, C and D

1. Highland Zone:

Region: Northern, north western and western highlands.

Areas: Chitral, Murree, Muzaffarabad, Drosh, Quetta, Kalat, Parachinar, Waziristan.

Climate: 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 and in western
mountain is less. The temperature conditions also vary from north to west depending on the
altitude.

 North: Summers are short and mild because of transfer of heat from central Pakistan
and high angle of sun. Winters are very cold because of high altitude and low angle of
sun.
 West: Summers are dry and warm in Western mountain because of continental effect,
aridity and high angle of sun. Winters are mild warm because of low angle of sun,
altitude and Western Depressions.
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 Figure 3. Areas of Highland climate

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 (the seasonal movement of people
with their livestock) is also practiced. People live as nomadic herdsman. Many northern areas
are not accessible due to landslides and heavy snowfall. Lack of water supply discourages
human settlements.

Sources of rainfall: Sources of rainfall in Highland zone are Relief rainfall, Monsoon
rainfall, Thunderstorms and Western Depression.

2. Lowland Zone (Semi-arid to arid):

Region: Indus plain except the Coastal areas.
Areas: Islamabad, Sialkot, Sargodha, Multan, Jacobabad, and Sukkur.
Climate: 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. In upper Indus plain and Lower Indus plain, 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.

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 Figure 4. Areas of Lowland climate

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 in this zone and moderate rainfall and tolerable temperature.
Sources of rainfall: Convectional rainfall in northern Punjab, Western depression in
northern Punjab and Monsoon rainfall.
3. Coastal zone:
Region: Indus Delta, Karachi and Makran coast.
Areas: Karachi, Jiwani, Pasni, Ormara and Gwadar.
Climate: 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 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 320 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.

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 Figure 5. Areas of Coastal climate

Life and economic activities: The rainfall takes place during monsoon season; many tourists
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 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. 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.
4. Arid zone:
Regions: South-eastern desert, and south-western Baluchistan.
Areas: Kharran Desert, south-western Baluchistan, south-eastern desert.
Climate: 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 Balochistan, 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.

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 Figure 6. Areas of Arid climate

Life and Economic activities: This zone is deficient of moisture, 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 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.
Conclusion:
The climate of Pakistan is generally characterized by hot summers and cool or cold winters.
Pakistan has wide variations between extremes of temperature at given locations. There is little
rainfall. Pakistan lies in temperate zone. It is blessed country of having four seasons; Summer,
Winter, Autumn and Spring. Sibbi, Jacobabad and Multan are hottest places in Pakistan. Rainfall
is highest in Northern areas and decreases towards South.

References:
 Sethi N.H. (2007). Environment of Pakistan. 2nd edition: 23-24.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Pakistan
 https://www.slideshare.net/Thecityschool12/climate-of-pakistan-2874248
 https://www.slideshare.net/Saadfarooqi/climatic-zones-of-pakistan
 https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-
Pakistan

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