Climatic-balneological characteristic

Ukraine is characterized by the diverse combination of natural conditions and landscapes that have great potentialities for extensive development of therapeutic and health-improving recreation.

Climate as the weather condition of many years, is formed due to the interaction of the main climatic factors: solar radiation, air circulation and effect of the Earth surface. The basic characteristics of weather are air temperature and humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, cloudiness, atmospheric precipitation and visibility.
The climatic conditions of the territory of Ukraine are characterized by zonality, clear seasonal contrasts in the motion of meteorological variables, increase of continentality from the northwest to the southeast, formation of the climatic differences in the mountain regions and seashores.
Climate description of Ukraine
The territory of Ukraine is located in two climatic zones – temperate and subtropical. The climatic zone of temperate latitudes includes all the flat part of the territory of the country, the Ukrainian Carpathians and the Crimean Mountains, and subtropical one – the Southern coast of the Crimea. In the climatic zone of temperate latitudes in Ukraine two climatic regions are distinguished: Atlantic-continental, which covers the zone of mixed forests and forest-steppe, and continental, which covers the zone of steppe.
Continental climate of steppes. Warm dry climate of steppes in summer time is characterized by high air temperature (up to 30-35 °C) and stable intense solar radiation (up to 0.9 kW • m-2). As there is the grass cover, relative air humidity increases (up to 10-25%) and its pollination decreases. Low humidity facilitates the heat emission through evaporation of sweat from skin and mucous membranes, due to which patients tolerate the heat well. The intensive solar radiation causes the steady hyperaemia of skin and kidneys’ vasorelaxation. Dosed dehydration of the body causes the reduction of high blood pressure, the selection of erythrocytes from a depot and hemocoagulation. Volatile substances of flowers and grass that create odorous fragrance of steppes, disturb olfactory analyzer and cause the evident reactions of cardiovascular system (bradycardia, blood pressure reduction), the higher nervous activity disturbance.
Continental climate of forests. The characteristic features of cold and dry climate of mixed forest of the temperate zone are low air temperature (in summer up to 25-30 °C), its relative humidity (up to 60%) and low wind speed. In the clear air of forests the content of oxygen, light air ions and ozone is high, the concentration of carbon dioxide is low. High phytogenesis of forests (especially in the period of gemmation and flowering) conditions the high content of volatile aromatic substances, which have sedative, bactericidal and fungicidal effect, in the air. Terpenes, ether and organic acids, which are segrerated by trees and bushes in warm season of the year, rarefy the secretion of respiratory tracts of a person and intensify the drain function of dilated bronchi. Slow and deep breathing that appear during the stay in the forest, leads to the increase of pulmonary ventilation and oxygen utilization, the increase of tissue respiration. The forest climate increases the inhibitions in the cerebral cortex, increases the tone of subcortical structures and centres (vegetative nervous system and thermoregulation).
Сoast climate of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov is determined by the geographical location of the country, coastal landscape and wind rose. The water environment reduces the daily fluctuations of air temperature, it ensures the purity and transparency. High intensity of solar radiation in summer and surf cause spraying and evaporation of the sea water drops into the airspace. The maritime air that contains microchips of salts (chloride, sulfate, bromide and iodide of sodium, calcium, magnesium), causes hyperaemia of skin and mucous membranes of respiratory tracts, restores their trophism, secretory and excretory functions, stimulates reparative regeneration in different organs. Rhythmic sound of surf, view of the quiet sea and the sea air, saturated with bromides and iodides, restore the correlation brake-stimulanting processes in the cerebral cortex. These factors reduce the activating effect of the reticular formation on above-located centres, normalize the higher nervous activity and the vegetative regulation of visceral functions.
Because of the difference of temperature of the seashores surface, the coastal air constantly moves (shore breezes), increasing the specific weight of the convection in the mechanisms of heat elimination. Irritating mechanoreceptors of the organism, it activates the neuroendocrinal mechanisms of the regulation of functions, aimed at the maintenance of the heat equilibrium and stability of the organism to environmental factors.Training of mechanisms of the long-term adaptation and reactivity of the organism in this environment occurs with the help of stimulation of sympathoadrenal, immunocompetent and vegetative systems. Neurotrophic effect on various inflammatory and dystrophic processes and functional disorders increases with bathings in the sea.
Central (400-1000 m) and highland (1000-2500 m) climate is characterized by the reduced atmospheric pressure (is reduced to 1 mm Hg with the ascent to every 11 m) and air temperature (is reduced to 0.5-0.6 °C with the ascent to every 100 m), low dustiness of air and its high transparency for solar radiation, intensity of which at an altitude of 2500 m is up to 1,05 kW • m-2. The spectral density of long and medium wave ultraviolet radiation increases, the density of air (to a quarter) and the partial pressure of oxygen reduces in the mountains. As to the climatic conditions, the regions of Ukraine can be divided into the zones according to the level of favourableness.
Relatively favourable zone covers the area of mixed forests, central and highland zones of the Carpathians and the Crimea and is characterized by the considerable percentage of forest land in comparison with the other areas. It is notable for the considerable changeability of the climatic conditions in cold and transitional periods of the year. Summer is warm and moderately warm in the mountain areas. Winter is characterized by considerable contrasts in light and dynamic mode of the main meteorological elements. The zone is sufficiently damped. The warm season of the year is characterized by the stabler climate. Favourable for climatotherapy weathers number 50-65% of days a year in this zone. However, in connection with the considerable frequency of cloudy and rainy days in the summer period, meteorological conditions for aerotherapy are characterized as cool and cold in natural conditions, and only in the southern part comfortable conditions of the air baths are observed in July in 50% of days. Expansion of favourable conditions to 85% is possible through the use of correctors. Contrast variability of the weather mode with scarcely favourable weather for human organism often exceeds 35% of days a year.
Climate of the mixed forests zone is the most favourable for rest and treatment of people with the diseases of respiratory apparatus, nervous and cardiovascular systems, with metabolic disorders and others. Climate of the zone can be used for broadening the adaptive capabilities of people, who under the circumstances have to work in the areas with the extreme weather conditions. The warm preriod from May to October is the most favourable for rest, and the period from November to April with the peaks in December, February and March is unfavourable. The period from August to the beginning of September within the area is rather stable, without special extreme changes of the main meteorological elements, which is particularly favourable for rest of the weak patients.
Favourable zone covers the area forest-steppe and steppe and lowland mountain zones of the Carpathians and the Crimea. The optimal period of Heliotherapy increases up to 5 months (April-September). Summer is warm and very warm in the south. The summer period is characterized by great weather stableness, low interdiurnal variability and daily range. Sunny moderately humid and humid weathers (up to 90% in some months) have the biggest frequency. However, high temperatures in July and August often create the conditions of overheating of the organism (5-10%). In the coastal areas the days with the hot weather classes are reduced due to the cooling influence of the sea breezes. The winter period is characterized by high cloudiness, low temperatures and high wind speed. Meteorological conditions by aerotherapy in the summer period are characterized as cool and comfortable in natural conditions. In the southern part wide application of thalassotherapy is possible.
Moderate solar radiation, prevalence of flat surface and presence of woodlands are typical for the zone of forest-steppe. In the conditions of woodlands the chemical composition of air is changing, what primarily depends on the structure of species of wood. Climate of the forest-steppe zone is the most favourable for rest and treatment of people with diseases of respiratory and digestive apparatus, nervous and cardiovascular systems, with metabolic imbalance and others. The warm period from May to October is the most favourable for rest and treatment.
The steppe zone is characterized by plains, located at a height of 150-250 m above sea level, and river valleys. A considerable number of hours of sunshine and prevailing of the anticyclone climate here ensure the possibility of providing climatotherapy in the most optimal conditions during the whole year. The steppe zone is characterized by a small period of ultraviolet insufficiency and strong biological activity of solar radiation in the warm season of the year according to the biological significance of solar radiation. Summer is sunny, warm and dry, it lasts from the middle of May to the middle of September. Big frequency of sunny weather with the predominance of hot and dry weather is typical for the steppe zone. There is a danger of overheating of the organism by these peculiarities, that is why it is more favourably to provide aerotherapy in the morning. In autumn climate is similar to summer and is also favourable for treatment. Only in the end of October the period of rains begins. Variations of climate in the autumn period is more pronounced than in summer.
Climate of the steppe zone is favourable for the use of all kinds of climatotherapy. The warm period from May to October is the most favourable for rest and treatment. During this period in the south of the zone one can widely use thalassotherapy as the main method of climatotherapy. The meteorological conditions for air baths of the steppe zone in the warm season of the year are characterized as cool and comfortable in the natural conditions. The summer months are characterized by the considerable frequency of hot discomfort in the south-east of the zone, which can cause meteopathic reactions, especially patients with cardiovascular disease may have them.
Rather favourable zone covers the southern coast of the Crimea. Summer is very warm, winter is mild. Stable transition of temperature above 0 °C within the zone is not observed. During the year there are very stable weather conditions, which are favourable for weather sensitive people. Contrast changeability of the weather conditions is 18-32%. The biggest weather changeability is observed in November, December, February and April, and the minimum – in August and September. The optimal period for thalassotherapy is the period from the end of April to October. The favourable maritime climate without sharp fluctuations creates rather comfortable conditions for treatment of patients of different age groups and especially children during the whole year.
The Crimean Peninsula is famous for the soft and favourable climate. Despite the small size of the territory, the considerable diversity of climate, which is conditioned by the peculiar structure of the relief and by the influence of the seas that wash it, is observed here.
The location of the Crimean Mountains in the south of the peninsula resulted in the formation of mild subtropical climate. On average, this territory is 1.5-3 °C warmer than other localities of the peninsula. The characteristic feature of climate is the increase of number of the sunshine hours as it becomes higher (Yalta – 2220 hours, Karabi-Yayla – 2505 hours a year). The annual amount of solar radiation varies within 5321-5928 MJ/m2, 60% of which is of direct radiation. The annual radiation balance is 2640 MJ/m2. In the annual variation the radiation balance is sufficient during the year.
In summer and autumn, as a result of penetration of the tropical air masses, sunny weather prevails in the Crimea. In winter and spring due to the cyclonic activity the cloudy weather is formed, there is the main amount of precipitations. The annual amount of precipitations in the mountains is 900-1100 mm, in the foothills – 500-600 mm. The length of the Crimean mountains for 200 km from the west to the east causes the diverse condition of different parts of the territory with respect to the western humid and northern cold air masses. Breeze circulation, which is conditioned by the thermal contrasts of land and the sea in the warm season of the year, plays a big role in the formation of the local climate peculiarities. The climate of the Southern coast of the Crimea is subtropical and Mediterranean, it is formed under the influence of the tropical air masses of the Atlantic origin in summer and autumn and of the air masses of the marine and continental origin in winter and spring.
Climatic geographic peculiarities of Ukraine determine the climate of the country as moderately continental (including steppes, forests and mountains), and as that, which gradually changes from the west to the east, if taking into consideration its remoteness from the oceans, continental Eurasia and mostly flat nature of the territory. Only the narrow coastal strip of the Southern coast of the Crimea is characterized by the subtropical seaside climate of the Mediterranean type. Within the borders of Ukraine there are four climatic regions, each of them has quite considerable differences in the rates of atmospheric pressure, air temperature, amount and frequency of precipitations – the Northern, the Southern, the Mediterranean and the Mountain regions.
The Northern climatic region coincides with the zones of Polissya (woodlands) and Forest-Steppe and is substantially under the influence of wet cyclones. True altitudes of this territory vary within 135-500 m. The average temperatures in January vary from -6.5 ° to -8 °C, in July – from +15.5 ° to +20.5 °C and the amount of precipitations is from 480 mm to 690 mm.
The Southern climatic region is characterized by the high level of insolation, greater drought and is mainly under the influence of anticyclonic activity. True average altitudes of its are low (10-150 m), average temperatures in January vary from -2 ° to -7 °C, in July - from +21.5 ° to +30 °C, annual amount of precipitations is from 370 mm to 465 mm.
The Mediterranean climatic region (the Southern coast of the Crimea) is protected in the north from the effect of cold air masses by the Crimean Mountains. Here the climate is of the Mediterranean type – average air temperature in the winter months is higher than +1 °C, and in summer during 3-4 months it exceeds +20 °C. Spring is long and warm, summer lasts for about six months, autumn is also warm and clear. The average air temperature of the year is from 12.5 to +14 °C, and the average amount of precipitations is 540-690 mm.
The Mountain climatic region covers the Ukrainian Carpathians and the Crimean Mountains, and the presence of zones, which is revealed through the change of temperature and landscapes according to the country height, is its characteristic feature. In the mountain conditions there is a large amount of precipitations (745-1450 mm). The average temperature is low: in the Carpathians it is +4.5 °C, in the Crimea – almost +6 °C. Winters in the Carpathians are snowy, snow cover lies from October till May. The forests grow up to a height of 1600 m, and higher there are meadows (mountain valleys in the Carpathians, yaylas (mountain pastures) in the Crimea).
The leading climatic health resorts of the country are the corresponding therapeutic areas of the steppe zone – Berdyansk, Odessa group of resorts, the coastal areas – resorts of the south of the Crimea (Yalta, Alushta etc.), the mountainous areas – Yaremcha and Vorokhta in the Carpathians. For each group of the climatic health resorts their typical health-improving possibilities and expected effects from staying in these conditions are described, medical indications and contraindications for referral to the corresponding areas are developed.
In the Southern coast of the Crimea winter is mild, moderately cloudy, frostless weather with transition of temperature above 0 °C prevails. The frostless period begins in the end of March and lasts 250-300 days. In April the stable weather conditions with the predominance of sunny and moderately humid weathers are formed, and it becomes possible to provide the active kinds of climatotherapy. Summer is very warm, sunny, moderately dry, average monthly temperature in July is 22-24 °C, the frequency of sunny weather reaches 20 days and more. Breezes is the favourable factor for human sense of heat in the warm season of the year. Changeability of the weather conditions and meteorological elements in summer is the lowest during the year, and also comparing with the other regions. The similar weather conditions with the somewhat lower level of temperatures continue till the beginning of November. The sufficient quantity of solar heat, big stability of weather, moderate air temperatures and humidity allow to apply widely all the kinds of climatotherapy. The swimming season lasts 110-120 days.
The Mediterranean type of climate also extends to the south-eastern coast of the Crimean Peninsula (area of Feodosiya). The proximity of the sea, of the Crimean foothills and of the southern steppe determine the features of climate. Summer is hot, but it is borne easily due to the refreshing effect of breezes. Winter is short, soft, the average temperature in February is 0 °C, it is often higher.
When applying resorts of the seaside zone one should take into consideration that with the winds of the sea the content of chloride salts in the air can change. In the areas, located 1 km from the sea, it becomes 7 times larger concerning the content of chloride salts, when there are winds from the land. The highest concentration of salts is by the east wind, the lowest is by the northerly wind. At the territory of the beach the concentration of chloride salts is about 20 times higher than at a distance of 1 km from the sea. When the sea is rough, the content of salts in the air increases.
Climate of the coastal zone, which adjoins to the southern Ukrainian steppes (Odessa group of Eupatoria, Berdyansk, Skadovsk, Ochakiv etc. resorts), is moderately continental, it combines features of the marine and steppe climate. The proximity of the sea weakens winter frosts and summer heat. Frostless period lasts 230 days. There are more than 290 clear and sunny days a year. The annual amount of precipitations is 200-400 mm. Summer is long and warm here. Winter is characterized by the transition of temperature above 0 °C. The marine air in the coastal strip is saturated with aerosols of the sea salts of bromine, chlorine and iodine. This zone is favourable for climatotherapy during the whole year, especially for patients with essential hypertension, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis and nervous disorders. The distinguishing feature of the mountain climate is the leser interdiurnal variability of the main meteorological factors. The mountain air is characterized by greater purity and saturation with negative ions. The number of hours of sunshine and biological activity of the ultraviolet spectrum increases in the mountains. Vertical location of the zones creates peculiar conditions and big opportunities for treatment and rest.
Favourable climate for the whole territory of the country allows to apply climatotherapy widely as one of the main methods of treatment and prevention of disease at the health-resort stage.
 
 K.E. Bilenkyi, V.V. Yezhov