The Pakistan Meteorological Department is an autonomous institution that provides weather information, forecasts and public warnings. The department also provides information on climate change and its impacts. Read on to learn more about the department and its functions. This article explores some of the challenges the department faces, as well as the challenges of modernization and climate change. The goal of the department is to help the nation and its citizens make informed decisions on how to best handle these challenges.
Impacts of climate change on water resource management
In Pakistan, water scarcity is a major threat to the livelihood of more than 207 million people. If the current water availability in Pakistan is not maintained at current levels, significant change could threaten food security in the country. In this study, we used satellite data from 1981-2017 to estimate the extent of water in reservoirs in Pakistan. We focused on the period from March to June.
The study found that current climate models were not able to accurately simulate monsoon rainfall in the Indus river basin, which is located on the western edge of the monsoon. As a result, scientists could not accurately quantify the effect of climate change on rainfall in the basin. However, they did find that climate change could increase the 5-day total rainfall in Sindh by as much as 50%.
The study used several different WE models and found that multiple linear regression (MLR) models best explained the variability in WE. It also found that MLRs could be used to estimate the water resources in reservoirs year-round. Using these models, stakeholders can use water resource management data to plan for water supply.
In the IRB, water from the high mountain areas feeds the irrigation system. However, Pakistan does not have sufficient storage capacity to meet the needs of its irrigated system. In fact, the country only has water reserves to sustain its irrigated system for 20 days. As the climate changes, the country needs to invest in more reservoirs to manage its water supply.
In Tarbela, WE values have the greatest variation during the Post WD/Post Rabi and Pre MS/Pre Kharif seasons. Tarbela, on the other hand, shows less variability in its WE during the winter months. Tarbela and Mangla also show significant variations throughout the six seasons. In the Mangla and Tarbela reservoirs, these seasonal fluctuations are linked to global COs and precipitation regimes.
Floods in Pakistan have already claimed more than 1,300 lives, affecting 33 million people. Floods and landslides have also caused massive damage to livelihoods, destroying homes and agricultural land. The human toll is expected to increase as water levels continue to rise. As a result, the international community needs to take action to help Pakistan recover from the floods and other impacts of climate change.
Waterborne diseases are also a potential threat from climate change. These diseases are associated with increased exposure to the various pathogens associated with waterborne conditions. In developing countries, these diseases pose greater risks because of inadequate sanitation and health care facilities. This situation is further compounded by a lack of water resources management and inadequate health care facilities.
Increasing temperature and rainfall will impact water availability and flow in many river basins. In northern European rivers, the snow limit will be pushed upward by warmer temperatures. As temperatures rise, more rainfall will be available to rivers, which may increase the frequency of droughts and flooding. As a result, the winter runoff will be higher and spring melts earlier than expected, shifting the peak flow level. The decline of glaciers will decrease the amount of water that rivers need to compensate for their low summer flow.
Functions of Pakistan Meteorological Department
The PMD is an autonomous department under the government of Pakistan that is responsible for providing weather forecasts and public warnings. It has over 100 observation stations across the country. Its meteorological equipment measures air temperature, rainfall, pressure, humidity, and wind direction. It also records data about atmospheric phenomena and shares it with the WMO for analysis. It also collects data from satellites and radar pictures.
The Department provides meteorological services to various agencies and organizations throughout the country. It also provides initial assistance to research organizations. The department processes raw data and produces forecasts and warnings for different purposes. It also offers meteorological services for flight safety and earthquake design consultancy. It also assists in the development of weather forecasting technology.
The department has a number of regional and national drought monitoring systems. Since Pakistan experiences frequent droughts and water shortages, it provides crucial weather information that can help the country prepare for these disasters. It also bolsters the work of various disaster management agencies. However, it cannot guarantee the safety of individuals.
The Department has numerous operational offices. Its meteorologists conduct research on climate change and climatology. They also provide data for the aviation industry, agriculture, and shipping industries. Besides, the department has published more than 300 scientific papers in national and international journals. Some of its researches have focused on artificial rain making, ground water detection, arid zones, and ozone measurements. It has also conducted research on solar energy and oceanographic and space sciences.
In addition to providing information on weather, the department also provides services for disaster prediction and assessing climate change. It works under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has 198 member states. Its Director General serves as the country’s permanent representative to the WMO.
The department also maintains six seismological observatories. These instruments are essential in the flood forecasting process, as they can help forecast rainfall in the region. Furthermore, the FFD also plays a vital role in the flood forecasting process. The department has developed maps of rainfall in the region over the past 35 years, which will help to predict future floods.
In addition to weather forecasts, the department provides information about floods and other extreme weather events. It also produces short and long-range forecasts for agricultural operations. It also tracks and detects tropical storms and depressions. It also distributes data from geostationary satellites through the national communication system and via television.
Needs for modernization
The Pakistan Meteorological Department is facing a crisis in terms of manpower and infrastructure. The department is currently struggling to meet the demand for meteorological data, especially during times of natural disasters. The department also faces a lack of funding. This is affecting its ability to collect and distribute data. A modern and technologically advanced data processing system is needed to provide reliable and timely meteorological data to the people of Pakistan.
Currently, the department has over 100 surface observation stations in different parts of the country. These observation stations collect information on air quality, air temperature, precipitation, humidity, pressure, sunshine duration, and soil moisture. The data is sent to regional climate centers for analysis, and then to the national forecasting centre.
In addition to weather data, meteorological departments provide services in areas such as hydrology, agriculture, and disaster risk management. The department provides guidance on climate change, weather patterns, and weather conditions. The department also provides forecasts on flash floods. It also provides guidance on disaster risk management, water resources, and irrigation.
