Climate of Pakistan

Topography Climate
1. Northern Mountains 1. Highland
2. Western Mountains 2. Lowland
3. Indus Plain 3. Coastal
4. Potwar Plateau and 4. Arid
Salt Range
5. Balochistan Plateau
6. Desert Areas
Highland Climate
- Includes north, north-western, and westerns highlands
- Long, cold winters with short, mild summers
- Rainfall associated with altitude and varies North to West
- More rain in the North compared to the West
- Temperature also varies North to West
- Summers short, mild, wet → North
- Summers dry and warm → West
Lowland (semi-arid to arid)
- Includes whole Indus Plan (minus coastal
area)
- Arid climate with hot summers, cool
winters, and monsoon rains
- Amount of rainfall differs north to south
- More rainfall at foothills of Norther
Mountains/Potwar Platea than Indus Plain
- Also receive rain from Western
Depressions
Coastal
- Comprises of Indus Delta, Karachi, and Makran Coast
- Very high humidity levels (50%+ in April-September)
- Climate dominated by sea breezes year round
- Maritime influence keeps daily temperature rsange low
- Maritime climates experience generally cool summers and mild winters, with
a much smaller annual temperature range.
- Large bodies of water, such as oceans, have an effect on the climate of certain locations and regions within a given
proximity. The effect of an ocean's airflow on the climate of the surrounding areas, also known as the maritime effect,
is generally milder temperatures and a decreased variation in temperatures. Although the ocean is generally slow to
warm, it retains its warmth for a long period of time, which has an effect on the climate.
Arid
- South-western Balochistan and
south-eastern deserts
- Hot, dusty winds continuous from
May to September
- Scarce rainfall occurs in the
winters in Balochistan
- Monsoon rains bring very little
water to the deserts
Latitude and Longitude
- There is a relationship between
latitude and temperature around
the world, as temperatures are
typically warmer approaching the
Equator and cooler approaching
the Poles.
- Latitude has a big effect on
climate because latitude
controls how much solar energy a
location receives.
- Pakistan located above Tropic of
Cancer
 When the pressure is low, the air is free to rise
into the atmosphere where it cools and condenses.
This condensation forms clouds made of water
droplets and ice crystals around dust particles in
the sky. Eventually the water vapor in the clouds
condenses and falls as rain.
Sources of Rainfall
- Rainfall decreases from North to South (rough guide)
1. Monsoons
These winds are seaonal and blow during winter and summer.
Summer → South west monsoons

Winter → North east monsoons

a) South-West

Giant SEA breezes which bring heavy rainfall. The summer sun heats up the tropical continents
much quicker than the surrounding sea. Warm air over land creates a low pressure, which attarcts the
cool and moist air from the sea. These rain-bearing winds move inland and cause rainfall.

b) North-East

Wind blows from land towards the sea. During winter, a high pressure area is created above the
Tropic of [Link] blow from land to sea, a low pressure area. These winds are dry and bring no
significant change.
O/N 09
MJ 19
Sources of Rainfall
2. Western Depressions :(

Originate from the Mediteranean Sea, travel across Afghanistan and Iran. After travelling
through the north-western areas, the winds move towards the south-west of Pakistan. By
the time they reach Balochistan, they are devoid of moisture.
O/N 09
Tropical Cyclones
This type of rainfall occurs when warm and cold air meets each other.
Since warm air is lighter, it rises above the cold air. The rising air is
then cooled beyond the saturation point resulting in heavy rainfall.
Such rainfall lasts only for few hours.

Come from the Arabian Sea

Only north and north-western areas receive rainfall. Southern pakistan is deprived
of it due to temperature inversion layer.
Relief Rainfall
It is related to the height of the land. It occurs when moist air moves up a mountain
and is chilled. This chilling causes heavy condensation and chilling on the
windward side. The lee side receives the sinking air, where a rain shadow is
formed.

A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward side of a mountainous area (away from the wind).
Highland

1. Relief
2. Monsoon
3. Thunderstorms
4. Western Depressions

Lowland

1. Convectional in the North

Coastal

1. Monsoon
2. Western Depressions
3. Cyclones

Arid

1. Little rainfall
Floods
The Indus and its tributaries flood almost every year. They are not severe, but
every 7-8 years they are.

Reducing the risk of flooding..

- Plant trees on the foothills → Lots of raindrops that land on leaves evaporate straight into the air- so
less water reaches the ground. And, leaves intercept rainfall, slowing the rate that water flows into rivers and
reducing the risk it'll burst its banks
- Enlarging river canal → holds more water
- Build embankments to prevent spread of floodwater
- Build extra channels → take water away from towns
- Build reservoirs on the river → store water nd control the
amount of discharge
- Prevent building in area where flooding is likely
- Publicize flood warning
- Evacuation protocol
Benefits of flooding include…

- Returns nutrients to the land and contributes to the health of the wetlands. Wetlands allow the entry of
floods with little damage.
- Soil lost due to erosion can take with it valuable plant-available nutrients and organic matter. Deposition of
sediments from floods may increase the level of nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and potassium in the soil.
- Floods distribute rich sediment and refresh dried out streams. They spread a layer of alluvium, which increases
fertility of the land.
- Flooded fields can be used to grow rice.
- The relatively high production of fish in the Arabian Sea is attributed to the nutrient rich Indus Delta.
- Recharge groundwater supplies
Give Reasons Why the Indus Floods. (2)