Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Global solar radiation is an important atmospheric stimulus affecting the human body and has been used in heliotherapy for years. In addition to environmental factors, the effectiveness of global solar radiation is increasingly influenced by human activity. This research was based on the use of heliographic and actinometric data (1996–2015) and the model distribution of global solar radiation to determine the possibility of heliotherapy with the example of two health resorts: Cieplice and Kołobrzeg (Poland). The solar features of health resorts (sunshine duration and global solar radiation) were characterized, and they were correlated with the spatial distribution of global solar radiation data obtained with the use of remote sensing techniques (System for Automated Geoscientific Analyzes-SAGA), including COoRdination and INformation on the Environment (CORINE) land cover (CLC) data. Using the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt), a qualitative and quantitative relationship between morphometric parameters and solar climate features was demonstrated for individual land cover types. Studies have shown that the period of late spring and summer, due to the climate’s solar features, is advisable for the use of heliotherapy. The human activity that determines the land cover is the main element influencing the spatial differentiation of the possibilities of using this form of health treatment. It also affects topographic indicators shown as significant in the MaxEnt predictive model. In general, areas with high openness were shown as predisposed for health treatment using global solar radiation, which is not consistent with areas commonly used for heliotherapy. The conducted research has shown the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the issue of heliotherapy, which will contribute to the optimization of the use of this form of health treatment from the perspective of climate change and human pressure.
Highlights
Solar energy is the overriding factor determining all aspects of life on Earth, starting with the photosynthesis process defined by J
Due to the availability of axonometric data, health resorts with morphometric diversification of protection zones were selected for the study: Cieplice located in the south of Poland—in the outskirts of the Karkonosze Mountains, and Kołobrzeg located in northern Poland—in the zone of the Baltic Sea quays
Based on the results of conducted studies and the connections between solar climate features, terrain morphometry, and land cover in terms of the usage of heliotherapy, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Solar features of the climate of the research area, defined by the number of hours with the sun, the sum of global solar radiation, and the height of the sun, indicate that the best conditions for heliotherapy are from April to September
Summary
Solar energy is the overriding factor determining all aspects of life on Earth, starting with the photosynthesis process defined by J. The wavelength of solar radiation reaching the upper border of the Earth’s atmosphere ranges from about 0.2 to 4 μm. This range includes ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation [3]. The intensity of global radiation is influenced by several factors, mainly including latitude, time of year and day, terrain, and altitude, as well as the amount and type of cloud cover [6,7,8]. The sum of actual sunshine duration depends mainly on the length of the day, the amount and type of cloud cover, and the horizon covering [12,13,14]. The aerosol and water vapor concentration influence the sunshine duration, especially at low solar altitude
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
