Short Notes On Punjab Climate

Punjab is one of the 28 states in India. It is located in the northwest of the country. To the north of it is the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. On the northeast side is the state of Himachal Pradesh. Haryana state is to its south and the state of Rajasthan to the southwest. It is the land of five rivers Chenab, Ravi, Jhelum, Beas, and Sutlej. Punjab covers 1.53% of India’s geographic area. There are 23 districts in the state. It has been mainly an agrarian society since independence. The state is going through a lot of climate change issues. Various factors like temperature, wind, precipitation, and sunshine decide the impact of climate change. Generally, the climate of Punjab is determined by extreme cold or extremely hot conditions. 

Climate of Punjab

The location of Punjab from both geographical and latitudinal points is such that the state experiences big alteration in temperature almost every month. The temperatures generally reach their maximum in the period from mid-May to June. The state experiences the minimum temperature in the period from December to February. Punjab mainly goes through three major seasons. Summer from mid-April to June end, Monsoon from early July to September end, and Winter from early December to February end. Punjab also observes transitional seasons apart from the main seasons. These seasons are the pre-summer season from March to mid-April and the post-monsoon season from September to November. The pre-summer season is the transition phase between winter and summer. The post-monsoon season is the transition between monsoon and summer. The highest recorded temperature in Punjab is 46.1 degrees Celsius and 0.2 degrees celsius in Ludhiana and Amritsar, respectively. The rainfall is received maximum in monsoon by the state and a little winter rain. 

Climate changes in Punjab

The climate of Punjab is changing unusually. Severe impacts of climate change on the temperature, groundwater discharge, precipitation, agriculture, and evapotranspiration. Urgent and effective steps must be taken to minimise such changes in the climate of Punjab and its effects. Punjab, well-known for its immense growth in the agriculture domain, is going through the need for intense water extraction, negligible forest cover, and excessive use of fossil fuels, making the state more affected by climate changes. In the last five decades, the wrong cropping patterns and urbanisation without proper planning have naturally led to the relentless use of resources. Due to this, large changes have occurred in the climate of Punjab.  Abnormal rain patterns have affected crop yield and farmers’ income at an extreme level. The frequent floods and droughts were not something the state used to experience a few decades ago. For instance, Punjab sometimes witnesses heavy rainfall in August, which is uncommon and a great concern for the state and the country. A clear strategy to maintain the climate of Punjab and avoid uncommon climate changes in the state is needed. 

Agro climate zones of Punjab

An agro climate zone is a land region whose overall climate is suitable for certain crops. The zone is decided by researching the region regarding available resources to meet food, fodder, and fuel requirements without badly affecting the environment. Punjab is divided into six such regions. The agro climate zones of Punjab sub-mountain undulating region, plain western region, central plain region, flood-prone region, and western region. All the agro climate zones of Punjab vary in the type of soil, water availability, and thus the vegetation it supports. For instance, the sub-mountain undulating zone consists of Pathankot, Narot Jaimal Singh, and Dharkalan. The topography here is uneven. In Kharif, crops, mainly maise and paddy, are grown. In the rabi season, wheat is the major crop here. Mango and litchi are crucial fruit crops in this region. 

Conclusion

The government and the NGOs are imparted awareness to control the climate of Punjab and its impacts. The Punjab State Council for Science and Technology is working hard to manage the climate. The action plan is made ready after analysing the status of water resources, observing climate change, agriculture production trends and beyond.