Unit: 2 Climate Georgraphy

Climate (unit: 2)

Q What is weather and climate?

Ans: Daily atmospheric condition of an area is called weather. 30 years of average
weather conditions of an area is called climate.

Topic: Monsoon Winds.

Q Explain why the monsoon winds develop? (4)

Ans: During summer low air pressure is developed over Pakistan. While high air
pressure prevails over sea (Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea) so moist
(humid/wet) wind from Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea blow towards land to fulfill the low
air pressure. Wind from Indian Ocean reaches Pakistan after crossing India called
primary monsoon. Monsoon winds from Arabian Sea are called secondary Monsoon
which causes less rain. These winds cause rain from July to September. The amount of
rain decreases from northern area to Southern areas.

Q Explain the importance of the arrival of the monsoon to people who live and
work in urban areas. (4) J 2011

Ans: Benefits: Climate became pleasant provide better living and working conditions.
Reduce air pollution and dust from atmosphere. Provide water for drinking, gardens and
live stock.
Problems: May cause flooding, harms property. People cannot reach working place due
to heavy rain so decreases production of country.

Q Three types of rain is experienced in Pakistan monsoon, depression and

convection. (I) explain why rising air is needed to produce rain. (ii) For each of
three types explain how rising air is produced in Pakistan.
Ans:
(I) Rising air is needed to produce rain because rising air cools at high altitude and
condensation take place. Clouds are formed and rain occurs.

(ii) Rising air is produced in three ways in Pakistan. Firstly summer monsoon winds rise
up along the northern hills and mountains.
 Secondly rising air occurs in depression which is low air pressure cloud system. Air
rises due to low air pressure in depressions and clouds forms due to condensation.

Thirdly warm air rises because of convection. Heated land warm-up the air and it rises
up, high altitude causes cooling, condensation take place and clouds are formed. This
causes thunder storm and rainfall.

Q In the Indus plain the summer rainfall is not always reliable. What problems are
caused (I) if the rainfall arrives earlier. (ii) If the rainfall arrives late. (iii) If amount
of rain varies considerably from one year to another? J2002 (6)

Ans:
(I) early arrival of monsoon means prolonged rainy season may cause floods.
Harvesting of Rabi crops may be affected. The sowing of Kharif crops may be affected.

(ii) Late arrival of summer rain means less than usual rain will create drought conditions.
It will badly affect crops in barani areas.

(iii) If amount of rain varies then farmer will be unable to plan sowing of crops which
depend upon rain. Irrigation method will be needed in case of low rain and excessive
rain can after sowing may damage young plants.

Topic: Western depression.

Q Explain why western depression causes rainfall during winter. (4) N2000.

Ans: The western areas receive rain in winter from western depression. These
depressions are low air pressure system developed on Mediterranean passes through
Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan and enter Pakistan causes rain in Pakistan from
December to March. Since Pakistan is at tail end brings light rain. The amount of rain
decreases from north to south of Pakistan and From West to East.

Q Name the areas which receive high rain in both summer and winter.
Ans: Murree, Rawilpindi and Jhelum in northern Punjab. Peshawar in K.P.K. Quetta in
Balochistan.

Q Why western depression 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 is drains off. Vapor-transpiration rate is high in
summer. While rain due to western depression occur in light shower 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)
J2011.
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 shower 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 reason.

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

Ans: Floods, draughts, dust storms and thunder storms.
Topic: Cyclones.

Q Which name is given to the very violent storms which occasionally hit the
coastal areas of Pakistan?
Ans: Cyclones.

Q Which areas are affected by tropical cyclones? (2)

Ans: Coasts of Sindh and Balochistan.

Q What effect do cyclones may have on the economy and lives of the people who
live in the coastal areas? (5)

Ans: Cyclones are low pressure system with heavy rain and strong winds. Strong winds
create high sea waves which cover large coastal area with sea water. Flooding may
cause in several areas. Crops are destroyed, animals are drowned, communication is
disrupted, many human lives are lost, power cuts off, people have to be evacuated, and
industry may close down in these conditions. Mud houses are destroyed. Lightening can
also damage property.

Thunders storms:
Q In which part of the year thunder storm are experienced?
Ans: Thunder storms are experienced in April to June, and in the month of October and
November.

Q Which part of Pakistan experience thunder storm?

Ans: Only northern and north-western part of Pakistan experience thunder storms. I.e.
Rawalpindi and Peshawar.

Q Explain the advantages and disadvantages of thunderstorm.

Ans: Advantages: Supply water, reservoirs are filled with water and increase hydro-
electricity production.
Disadvantages: May cause floods which damage and block roads. High winds damage
buildings and trees. Loss of power supply reduces production, disrupt flights and fishing
activities. Soil erosion caused by rain effects roads and railway lines.

Q What type of rainfall does Murree receives in May-June and Oct-November?

How does it formed? (4)
Ans: Murree receives rain due to convectional rain in these months. The land is heated
which warms up the layers of air close to the surface. Warm air rises up and cools to the
surface. Warm air rises up and cools down at high altitude and condensation take place.
Clouds are formed and rain occurs (take place). Convectional rainfall is accompanied by
thunder and lightning. The rainfall is small in amount. October and November are driest
months.

Q Why no convectional rain occurs in lower Indus plain?

Ans: A temperature inversion layer does not allow condensation to take place at the
high of 1600 meters as a result warm air descends and no rainfall occurs.

Q How relief rainfall occurs (take place) in hilly areas?

Ans: Moist wind is blocked by mountain so air moves up and cooled down cause’s
condensation and rainfall occurs on wind ward side. On the other side of mountain
called leeward no rain occurs because as wind crosses the mountain its altitude
decreases and it warms down. Leeward side is called rain shadow area.
Q Explain why Peshawar receives a higher annual rainfall than Quetta. (4) N2000.

Ans: Quetta receives rainfall mainly in winter from western depression. Quetta does not
get rain from the summer monsoon winds. Peshawar is a rain fed area and gets
western depression rain in winter and also receives rain from monsoon in summer.
Peshawar is located at higher altitude than Quetta so moist winds easily reach their.

Q Explain why Sialkot has over 250 mm of rain in July and August? (4) J2002

Ans: The summer monsoon blow with full strength in July and August. Monsoon
originates from the Bay of Bengal and enters Pakistan after crossing India. Sialkot is
located near foothill of Sub-Himalayas on the eastern most side so receives good
rainfall from monsoon.

Q Why Hyderabad receives less rain than Sialkot in July-August?

Ans: Hyderabad is located in the south of Pakistan and receives secondary monsoon
from Arabian Sea with less moisture. There is no mountain range across monsoon
winds to make wind rise up so condensation cannot take place. While Sialkot is in
northern Punjab at foot hill of Sub-Himalayan range receives primary monsoon. Sialkot
receives some rain due to convectional rain while Hyderabad receives no convectional
rain due to temperature inversion layer.

Q Why Jacobabad is known as thermal pole of the subcontinent?

Ans: In summer maximum temperature reaches 53 C due to continental effect and

shortage of rainfall. Jacobabad is out of range of western depression and monsoon
winds are blocked by Suleiman range and Kirther range. No convectional rain occurs
due to temperature inversion layer.

Topic: Climatic factors.

Q State the main factors which influence climate of Pakistan.

Ans: Following are factors affect climate of Pakistan.
(1) Latitude or distance from the equator which means that as we go northward
temperature will decrease. (2) Distance from sea means places away from the sea are
hot in summer and cool in winter. (3) Altitude or height above sea level means
temperature decreases with height. Mountainous areas are cooler than plain areas.(4)
In Pakistan summer monsoon rain and in winter western depression brings rain.

Q Three types of storm which occur in Pakistan are thunder storms, dust storms
and snow storm. State location of an area where it is most likely to occur.

Ans: (I) Thunder storm usually occurs in northern hilly regions and northern Punjab. (2)
Dust storm common in region adjoining deserts such as lower Punjab, Upper Sindh and
parts of Balochistan. (3) Snowfall is common in northern High Mountain over 6000
meters.

(ii) State time of year when thunder storms, dust storms and snow storm are most
likely to occur.
Ans: (1) Thunder storm occurs in April-June and October-November. (2) Snow storm
occurs in winter season from December to March. (3) Thunder storm occurs due to
excess heating and convection. Air close to land is heated up and become light and
rises up. Rising air forms clouds due to condensation and thunder storm is formed.

Q Explain why dust storms and snow storm take place at time of year in the area
you have mentioned?

Ans: (1) Dust storm which creates due to low air pressure. Strong wind blow
surrounding to fill vacuum and pick up sand and dust with them so dust storm is
created. (2) Snow storm develops in high mountain regions in winter due to low
temperature precipitation is in the form of snow, if accompanied by strong wind snow
storm is formed.

Q Describe the characteristics of winter climate in northern areas. (3) J2000

Ans: The northern areas experience low temperature because of height which varies in
altitude. Winter is long and cold with temperature below 5°C depending upon altitude
(height). Valley bottom are comparatively warm. Mountain range is permanently
covered with snow. In general at an altitude of 5000 meters the temperature remains
below freezing point throughout the year. Rain and snow in winter is due to western
depression. Rainfall decreases from west to east and north to south.

Topic: Effects of climate on life and economic activities.

Q In what ways does the winter climate make life difficult for people who live in
mountain areas?
Ans: snow covers ground so farming cannot be done, nothing grows so shortage of food
and fodder is created. Water freeze so fishing is difficult, shortage of drinking water is
created. Roads are blocked; power and telephone lines may cutoff. No tourism is
practiced because less income, air service is restricted due to fog. Damage to buildings
may cause due to land sliding and avalanches. Pipes are damaged due to frozen water.
Indoor activities are done so heating of houses are needed.
Q Describe the characteristics of the summer climate of Thar Desert affect the
way that area is used. (3)

Ans: In Thar Desert summer season is very hot and long. June is hottest month. Day
time temperature in above 50° C. Nights are not so hot. Rainfall is below 125mm
annually mostly during monsoon. In south it is little higher 250 mm due to nearness to
sea. Desert storms are common in summer.

Q Explain how summer climate of Thar Desert affect the way that area is used. (3)
Ans: Due to high temperature and low rainfall crop growing is impossible. Livestock
rearing like sheep, goat, camel and cattle rearing is common. Nomadic way of livestock
is practiced, people move in search of water and fodder. Evapo-transpiration is high. In
southern part crops like millet, pulses are cultivated when rainfall is suitable.

Q Describe an account for the main features of the climate experienced along the
coastal areas of Pakistan. (6)

Ans: Coastal areas of Pakistan receives moderate climate due to nearness to the sea.
Summer season is hot but not as interior Sindh. Summer is long and highly humid.
Mean June temperature is 31°C. Rajasthan winds brought hot spells in early summer.
Winter is mild, warm and shot. Occasionally Quetta winds bring short spells of cold
season. The western half of the coastal area receives less rain than 125mm. Most of it
falls in winter due to western depression. Eastern half (Sindh coast) gets more rain than
250 mm which mostly occurs during summer due to monsoon.

Topic: Floods

Q Why do many rivers in Pakistan are flooded in July? (3)

Ans: In July the summer monsoon enters Pakistan and causes heavy rainfall which
increases flow of water in rivers. Melting of snow is higher due to rising temperature
may cause floods in rivers.

Q State an advantage of flood.

Ans: Flood water carry alluvial material which is spread over land affected by flood
increases fertility, dams and barrages are filled by water, flood water fills inundation
canals, recharge ground water and flourish fishing industry.

Q How floods can be controlled?

Ans: Dams and barrages can store water. Dykes and embankments along river banks
prevent overflow of water from rivers. Flood monitoring and early warning system are
developed. Diversion canals reduce pressure of floods. River channel can be widened
and forestation in northern areas.

Q How and why economy of an area be affected by flooding?

Ans: Standing crops and orchids are washed away, loss of food supply, farmers are
unable to use land until water is drained away, mud houses are damaged and cattle is
swept away, communication is disrupted, roads and bridges are damaged, telephone
and electricity services are affected. Railway track is damaged. Mud and bricks roads
become unusable. People are evacuated from flood hit areas. Emergency food, shelter
and medical aid is needed which is a Burdon on economy. Funds are needed for
rehabilitation and rebuilding. Industries are closed down, exports are reduced and tax
collections decline.

Topic: Droughts

Q What are causes of drought?

Ans: Lack of monsoon rain, dry and hot winds reduce moisture in soil, deforestation
reduce rainfall. Water is wasted due to mismanagement and unlined canals,
overgrazing of land reduces transpiration and rainfall. Global climate changes have
changing climate of Pakistan.

Q What are effects of droughts?

Ans: Tharparkar in Sindh and parts of Balochistan are affected by drought. People and
livestock die due to shortage of water and hunger. Crops are destroyed due to shortage
of water. People migrate to other areas. Lot of funds is needed to set up camps to
provide food shelter. In drought conditions soil dries and blow away by winds so crop
cultivation is effected in future, bring diseases, famine and death.