Background:
Water scarcity and hydrological variability are increasing globally due to climate change, rising temperatures, and changing precipitation patterns. These changes disturb the natural water cycle by increasing evaporation, altering rainfall distribution, and reducing surface runoff and soil moisture. In semi arid regions such as northern Pakistan, water availability depends heavily on seasonal monsoon rainfall, making the region vulnerable to periods of drought and water stress. Advanced technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, reanalysis climate datasets, and machine learning provide powerful tools to analyze hydrological processes and support sustainable water resource management.
Case summary:
This study analyzes the water budget of the Rawalpindi Division using ERA5 reanalysis climate data from February 2015 to December 2025. Key hydrometeorological variables including precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, soil moisture, and storage change were examined to understand regional water dynamics. Results show strong seasonal rainfall patterns dominated by the monsoon, with evapotranspiration identified as the major water loss process. Trend analysis revealed decreasing trends in runoff and soil moisture, indicating growing water stress in the region. The findings highlight the need for improved water harvesting, sustainable water management practices, and climate adaptive planning to address increasing hydrological variability.
Published by
This research was conducted and published by AI Geo Navigators, Islamabad, Pakistan, with contributions from researchers specializing in remote sensing, GIS, hydrology, and water resources engineering.
AUTHOR DETAILS
1. Mr. Owais Ali¹
Academic Qualification: Ph.D. Remote Sensing and GIS
2. Dr. Junaid Ahmad*
Academic Qualification: Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Water Resources)
3. Mr. Adnan Abbas Shah¹
Academic Qualification: MS in Remote Sensing and GIS
4. Mr. Mudassir Sohail¹
Academic Qualification: MS in Remote Sensing and GIStherwise specified.
¹ AI Geo Navigators, Islamabad, Pakistan
* Corresponding Author
