Regional and Monthly Assessment of Possible Sunshine Duration in Pakistan: A Geographical Approach

Abstract

The monthly possible sunshine hours have been simulated separately for all the months of the year with the help of ArcGIS. The results are evident that the geography of the area plays a pivotal role in giving shape to spatial distribution of monthly possible sunshine duration (PSD). The landforms distributions and latitudinal extent are the major geographical factors behind the spatial-temporal distribution of monthly PSD. Maps of all the months depict different sunshine hours that vary from region to region in Pakistan. The maximum difference in PSD was noticed between lofty mountains in the north and Indus Plains. In addition, the variation is phenomenal from January to August and vice versa. This sort of study based on spatial modeling is significant in Pakistan where we lack appropriate ground observed data of PSD.