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A Classification of Rainfall Regions in Pakistan  

Hussain, Mian Sabir (Department of Geography, Konkuk University)
Lee, Seung-Ho (Department of Geography, Konkuk University)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Geographical Society / v.44, no.5, 2009 , pp. 605-623 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study is aimed to classify rainfall regions in Pakistan. Classification of rainfall regions is essential to understand rainfall patterns in Pakistan. Rainfall patterns have been investigated using a factor and cluster analysis technique by 10-days rainfall parameter. The data used here have been obtained from 32 specific weather stations of PMD (Pakistan Meteorological Department) for the period of January 1980 to December 2006. The results obtained from factor analysis provide three factors and these three factors accounts for 94.60% of the total variance. For a better understanding of rainfall regions, cluster analysis method has been applied. The clustering procedure is based on the Wards method algorithm. Overall, these rainfall regions have been divided into six groups. The boundary of the region is determined by the topology such as Baluchistan plateau, Indus plain, Hindu Kush and Himalaya ranges.
Keywords
factor analysis; cluster analysis; 10-day rainfall; rainfall patterns; rainfall regions;
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