The article aims to present extreme aeolian processes observed in April 2011 in the fields of the Szamocin municipality in Pojezierze Wielkopolskie (the Great Poland Lakeland). Aeolian erosion of cropland was fostered by strong wind with gusts exceeding 15 m·s−1. The erosion was related to the movement of a deep barometric low from the Norwegian Sea over western Russia (Joachim barometric low). Geomorphological mapping of accumulated sandy aeolian covers was conducted. Morphometric measurements of aeolian covers were made considering their spatial distribution and the thickness of sediments that build them. Samples were collected from sediments to analyze grain size and the volume of deposited sediments was calculated. According to grain size analysis the accumulated fine-grained mineral material was well, moderately well and moderately sorted. The thickness of aeolian covers exceeded the thickness of covers presented in Polish literature so far. Calculations of the total volume of mineral sediment derived from small areas covered with aeolian erosion (a few hectares each) indicate significantly greater volumes than those provided in publications from other research areas in Poland. The described dust storms did not cause much damage in Poland. At the same time (8 April) in northern Germany, a dust storm led to a severe collision on the A19 highway. Eight people died in car accidents and dozens suffered serious injuries.
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.
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