Pakistan Meteorological Department
Encyclopedia
The Pakistan Meteorological Department, also known as Pak Met Office, is a Government of Pakistan
organization which works under the Ministry of Defence. It is responsible for providing services in meteorological, hydrological and associated sciences.
Apart from meteorology
, the department is also concerned with Agrometeorology, hydrology
, Alternative Energy
, Astrophysics
(including Solar Physics), Seismology
, Geomagnetism, Atmospheric Lightning & Electricity and studies of the ionosphere
and cosmic ray
s etc.
Pakistan Meteorological Department was established in 1947 with only 15 meteorological observatories operating in the whole country. Since then the facilities have been significantly improved with the establishment of modern flood forecasting system, earthquake and nuclear explosion detection system, nuclear meteorology, radar, satellite, computer technology, flight safety consultancy services in seismic design of dams, buildings and other development and disaster relief schemes.
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
organization which works under the Ministry of Defence. It is responsible for providing services in meteorological, hydrological and associated sciences.
Apart from meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, the department is also concerned with Agrometeorology, hydrology
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
, Alternative Energy
Alternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
, Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior...
(including Solar Physics), Seismology
Seismology
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of earthquake effects, such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic,...
, Geomagnetism, Atmospheric Lightning & Electricity and studies of the ionosphere
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
and cosmic ray
Cosmic ray
Cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating from outer space. They may produce secondary particles that penetrate the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The term ray is historical as cosmic rays were thought to be electromagnetic radiation...
s etc.
Organization
The Pakistan Meteorological Department is headed by the Director General. The Department is further divided into several Directorates as follows ;- Institute of MeteorologyMeteorologyMeteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
& GeophysicsGeophysicsGeophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
or IMG (Training Center of PMD) KarachiKarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, - Tropical CycloneCycloneIn meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
Warning Center, Karachi, - National Seismic Monitoring and Tsunami Early warning Center Karachi,
- National seismic Monitoring and Tsunami Early warning Center (Backup Station) Islamabad,
- Directorate of Maintenance Karachi,
- Directorate of Forecasting and ClimatologyClimatologyClimatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...
Karachi, - ClimateClimateClimate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
Data Processing Center Karachi, - Regional Met. Centres:- Karachi, LahoreLahoreLahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, PeshawarPeshawarPeshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, QuettaQuettais the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, - Remote sensingRemote sensingRemote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon, without making physical contact with the object. In modern usage, the term generally refers to the use of aerial sensor technologies to detect and classify objects on Earth by means of propagated signals Remote sensing...
, Islamabad, - DroughtDroughtA drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, Environmental monitoringEnvironmental monitoringEnvironmental monitoring describes the processes and activities that need to take place to characterise and monitor the quality of the environment...
& early warning Center IslamabadIslamabadIslamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
, - FloodFloodA flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
Forecasting Division Lahore, - Wind mapping project for Wind Energy,
- EarthquakeEarthquakeAn earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
center Peshawar, - Geophysical Centre Quetta,
- Research & Development Islamabad,
- Meteorological Forecasting Offices (mainly for Aviation purposes) Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore.
- Chief Administrative Officer.
Pakistan Meteorological Department was established in 1947 with only 15 meteorological observatories operating in the whole country. Since then the facilities have been significantly improved with the establishment of modern flood forecasting system, earthquake and nuclear explosion detection system, nuclear meteorology, radar, satellite, computer technology, flight safety consultancy services in seismic design of dams, buildings and other development and disaster relief schemes.
See also
- List of extreme weather records in Pakistan
- National Institute of OceanographyNational Institute of Oceanography (Pakistan)The National Institute of Oceanography, commonly known as NIO, is an executive and federal department of Pakistan Government, and a major research institute of Ministry of Science and Technology. The NIO is a science and research executive organization located in Karachi, Sindh province of Pakistan...
- SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research CommissionSpace and Upper Atmosphere Research CommissionThe Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission , is an executive agency of the Government of Pakistan, responsible for nation's public and civil space program and aeronautics and aerospace research...
)