Climate change in Pakistan

LAHORE:During the past 62 years, the city witnessed warmest December in 2016 while an overall trend in rise of lowest minimum temperature has also been witnessed in various cities of Punjab.
Figures and data collected by The News revealed that in 1954, average lowest minimum temperature in the city was 1.7 degrees Celsius while in December 2016 this was 5.7 degrees Celsius.

Meteorological experts are linking the rise in lowest minimum temperature to the phenomenon of climate change and termed this a concerning issue.

“We can term the December 2016 the warmest December during the past 62 years,” said Sahibzad Khan, Director Meteorological Lahore while talking to the scribe. He said the change in weather pattern would put adverse impacts on agriculture and environment of the province while this can also result in various health issues.

Over the last five years, December had been getting progressively warmer in the provincial capital. Data showed that in recent years, the month remained relatively warmer, with the colder winters moving into the next year.

Data showed that the average maximum temperature in Lahore during December 2016 was 26.5 degrees Celsius, which was around 4 degree lower than the historic 30 degrees Celsius recorded in 1899. As per the data, Lahore had witnessed -2 degrees Celsius in 1910 and then -1 degrees Celsius in 2007. In 2015, Lahore’s lowest minimum temperature was 3 degrees Celsius, in 2014, it was 2 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 0.4 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 1.4, in 2011 it was 0.4 degrees Celsius, in 2010 it was 1.8 degrees Celsius, in 2009 it was 2 degrees Celsius and in 2008 it was 2 degrees Celsius.

Meteorologists also expressed surprise at the almost stagnant high day temperatures, particularly because the city has had foggy days. They said fog usually lowers day temperatures because of a drop in solar heating but in the provincial capital highest maximum temperature remained stagnant or witnessed a very minor change.

Sahibzad Khan predicted that the ongoing January may witness a longer cold spell than the previous years. “Mid-January, which once marked the end of winter in the provincial metropolis, is now the onset,” he said, adding the main reason for this extended winter forecast is delay in entry of western disturbances in the upper parts of the country. He predicted that January 2017 may witness colder nights and warmer days in comparison with the previous years.

He said continued burning of fossil fuels is spewing greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, making the planet warm up. He said global climate data and reports of different international organisations also termed the year 2016 warmer than the previous years.

Meteorological data of minimum lowest temperature in December 2016 of other major cities of Punjab also showed an upward trend in the mercury. As per the data, Murree, which is the most visited winter tourist spot across the province has witnessed a sharp rise in lowest minimum temperature. Data showed that Murree’s lowest ever temperature was -10.5 but in December 2016, it was 1 degrees Celsius, in 2015 it was -4.5 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was -2 degree Celsius, in 2013 it was -7.5 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was -4.6 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was -2.5 degrees Celsius.
Meteorological data of Islamabad (ZP) showed a very drastic increase in lowest minimum temperature, which was 1 degrees Celsius in December 2016 against the lowest ever temperature of -4.3 degrees Celsius. In 2015, lowest minimum temperature in the city was -0.5 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 0 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was -2.7 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 1.5 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was -1.5 degrees Celsius.

As per the data, lowest minimum temperature during December 2016 in Bahawalnagar was 7.9 degrees Celsius, which in 2015 was 5 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 3 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 4.5 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 2.7 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 3 degrees Celsius. Data showed that the lowest ever temperature recorded in Bahawalnagar was -1.1 degrees Celsius.

Meteorological figures showed that, lowest minimum temperature during December 2016 in DG Khan was 4.5 degrees Celsius, which in 2015 was 2.3 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 3.8 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 3.15 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 6.3 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 2.8 degrees Celsius. Data showed that the lowest ever temperature recorded in DG Khan was 2.3 degrees Celsius.
Data of Faisalabad showed that in December 2016 lowest minimum temperature of the city raised to 4.8 degrees Celsius while city’s lowest ever minimum temperature was -1.3 degrees Celsius. In December 2015, the city’s lowest minimum temperature was 3 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 1.2, in 2013 it was 1.5 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 2.5 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 0 degrees Celsius.

In Gujranwala, lowest ever temperature, which was 2.3 had increased to 5.8 in December 2016, meteorological data showed. In 2015, city’s minimum lowest temperature was 3.8 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 2.8 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 2.4 degrees Celsius and in 2012 it was 2.3 degrees Celsius.

Bahawalpur city’s lowest ever minimum temperature during the month of December was -1.3 degrees Celsius, data showed and revealed that in 2016 lowest minimum temperature of the city rose to 6.7 degrees Celsius, which in 2015 was 2.5 degrees Celsius, in 2014 was 1.7 degrees Celsius, in 2013 was 1.7 degrees Celsius, in 2012 was 3.0 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Data of Multan showed that, lowest minimum temperature during December 2016 was 7.5 degrees Celsius, which in 2015 was 4 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 1 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 2 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 5.2 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 0.5 degrees Celsius. Data showed that the lowest ever temperature recorded in Multan -1.1 degrees Celsius.

In Sahiwal, lowest ever temperature, which was 0.4 degrees Celsius had increased to 4.5 degrees Celsius in December 2016, meteorological data showed. In 2015, city’s minimum lowest temperature was 3 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 0.4 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 1.5 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 0.8 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 0.5 degrees Celsius.

Meteorological data of Sargodha showed that, lowest minimum temperature during December 2016 was 4 degrees Celsius, which in 2015 was 5.2 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 2.3 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 3 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 4.4 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 2.7 degrees Celsius. Data showed that the lowest ever temperature recorded in Sargodha 0.0 degrees Celsius.
Figures showed that, lowest minimum temperature during December 2016 in Sialkot was 4.5 degrees Celsius, which in 2015 was 2.8 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 1.8 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 0.8 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 3.4 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 1.0 degrees Celsius. Data showed that the lowest ever temperature recorded in Sialkot was -2 degrees Celsius.

As per data, lowest ever temperature of Jhelum was -3 degrees Celsius, which in December 2016 was 3.1 degrees Celsius, in 2015 it was 3.2 degrees Celsius, in 2014 it was 2.2 degrees Celsius, in 2013 it was 0.2 degrees Celsius, in 2012 it was 4.4 degrees Celsius and in 2011 it was 0.0 degrees Celsius.

Source: The News

Dry Weather likely To continue Till January PMD Report

Punjab currently faces the driest winter ever witnessed. The cause ultimately is the climatic changes mainly due to "No Policy" on preserving ecology. The weather has affected most parts of the country with Punjab at the front. A top official at Pakistan Meteorological Department stated the weather would remain unchanged till January next year. He further warned the current weather would aggravate water shortage in the country.

While there still seems no concern by the PMLN government to make a national policy to counter the negative climatic changes faced by the country, no other politician other than Moonis Elahi raises concern over the issue. Vice President Dr. Ghulam Rasool, of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), while speaking to the Express Tribune, a leading news site within the country, said that since September this year Pakistan has not received a good amount of rainfall. Even the northern areas which are hilly and mostly covered in snow during the winter have not received "Good Showers" and "Snowfall" is less expected to fall until January. While it is expected that some parts of the country will receive light to moderate rainfall, it is not enough to fulfill the need.

Under the current weather condition, days are warm while the nights are cold. For the winter season, this is not a good sign as due to clear skies the sun remains open throughout the day increasing the temperature. Clear skies mean less potential for rain in Punjab and less snowfall in the northern areas. Though PMD has warned of acute water shortage in the coming months, the concerned authorities have widely ignored these warnings, Moonis Elahi has once again raised his concern as we do not see any policy coming to shape regarding the abrupt changes in the climate of Pakistan.

For the first time ever Lahore had witnessed SMOG which was only due to cutting down of trees. To make roads for Lahore Metro Buses and destruction of plants in the city for the Orange Train, CM Lahore Shahbaz Sharif has caused an increase in the destruction of greenery in the city. Moonis Elahi has said time and again that unless the ecology system s kept in balance the country at large will face many climatic and health issues. People are reporting with ailments in hospitals mainly due to the dry weather. Dr Rasool has said the situation is alarming and the government should pay attention to it.