Did you know that Salzburger Sonnenterrasse is a designated healing climate? In actual fact, the unique bioclimate in the healing climatic spa resort of St. Veit im Pongau is of great value, as stated by a climate assessment carried out by the Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG). Pivotal components, explains Mag. Alexander Ohms from ZAMG, are optimal weather and climate; both have a role to play in recuperation and possibly even in the healing of modern-day ailments.
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According to assessments, the terrace situation in the centre of the town, which is some 200 metres above the Salzach is particularly beneficial, bringing with it especially favourable climatic conditions and these have a positive effect on body and mind. Here the stimulus factors of a high mountain area combine with the weaker stimulus climate and the distinct, easing factors of a low mountain range climate. The result is easing to mildly actinic, and mild to partially strong thermal stimuli.
All this sounds well and good, but what exactly does that mean in terms of bioclimate? St. Veit im Pongau merits its title as a healing climatic health resort, not only on account of its cleaner air, in comparison to many of the valley and basin locations in Salzburger Land, but specifically due to the following climatological features, as Mag. Ohms lists in detail:
From October to April there are more favourable sunshine, radiation and cloud cover conditions in St. Veit im Pongau than there are in lowland areas. For instance, the town has only a third of the fog frequency experienced in the city of Salzburg. This bias predominantly comes into effect in autumn and winter when in lower locations the flow-off of cold air results in longer lasting fog cover. Such persistent fog situations, as in the large valleys and in the Alpine foothills, are very rare. The somewhat shorter duration of sunshine, compared to the flatter regions in the province, as a result of cumulus clouds above the mountains between May and August, is of little consequence.
In St. Veit im Pongau strong contrasts in brightness and colour (for instance bright clouds on blue skies, sunlit inner forest areas, vibrant autumn landscapes), enhanced UV radiation and characteristic cumulus clouds above the mountains, have a stimulating effect.
St. Veit im Pongau’s location at between 750 and 2200 metres altitude is defined as being very favourable with regard to the climatic elements of air temperature and humidity. There are no extreme cold spells in the winter months, while in the summer, heat and mugginess are very rare. It seldom gets so hot during the daytime that you feel uncomfortable, which it sometimes can do, even when wearing appropriate clothing or reduce your activity. By searching for shaded areas or higher altitudes, the thermal load in the afternoon can be considerably reduced, even on very hot days. Night-time cooling, which is very important for recovery from heat stress, is ensured in St. Veit im Pongau, even in these times of advancing climate change. The absence of long periods of high relative humidity and the low frequency of winter inversion situations makes this location very suitable as a climatic health resort.
Due to the type of landscape in this climatic health resort area, there are no longer prolonged periods of stagnant air. Sunny, high pressure weather systems create a local wind system (mountain-valley-wind, slope winds), which reduces heat load as well as any gathering of stagnant cold air. On average, periods when there is absolutely no wind occur only around three percent of all hours. By the same token, high wind speeds are very rare in this climatic spa resort. Most of the time a pleasant, very gentle wind blows here. Due to its geographical location, there is no major Föhn wind in St. Veit im Pongau. On average there are around ten days of Föhn winds each year, of which around a half are in spring and a third in autumn.
In contrast to northern regions in the state, there is practically never any extreme orographic rain. Rainfall occurrence is low for an Alpine area. The distribution of rainfall reveals that even the highest probability of rainfall on summer evenings is only just over 20%.
The aim of a medical treatment is not only to heal the body using a specific remedy, but also to give it the opportunity to overcome an illness using its own healing abilities via certain stimuli. Weather and subsequently the climate, can trigger these stimuli. There is a differentiation between an actinic effect complex, which takes the intensity of light and solar radiation into consideration, along with the thermic effect complex, that specifically influences the level of well-being through a combination of air temperature, humidity and wind. The air-hygienic effect complex, which deals with the effects of the composition and purity level of air on the human body, is not just influenced by climatic conditions.
The climate in the town of St. Veit im Pongau is characterised by various natural and anthropogenic impact factors. These natural impact factors include the latitude, upon which solar altitude and thereby radiation intensity are dependent, along with soil type, ground cover and surface composition, since energy turnover is determined by different physical properties.
The climatic elements generally change with increasing altitude, and the shape of the landscape results in the formation of local climatic features. Changes in the utilisation of the land brought about by people have also lead to a change in the local and regional climate in St. Veit im Pongau. For instance, the changes to the ground surface and the energy balance of the ground level air layer due to urban sprawl. The same also applies to the emissions of heat and air particulates from domestic fuel, industry and traffic. Clearing and reforestation, irrigation, cultivation and the creation of new areas of water have an impact on the wind field, heat and water balance, and also the local bioclimate within the town.
Healing climatic health resorts like St. Veit im Pongau are health resort areas that feature climatic factors which promote the healing of specific illnesses. Natural climatic factors, specific to the area that are scientifically and empirically proven ans therapeutically applicable climatic factors must be identifiable. These include:
The landscape and vegetation on around a quarter of the town of St. Veit im Pongau provides a forest climate which has numerous bioclimatic favourable features. Trees provide protection from excessive solar radiation and curb diurnal and annual variations in air temperature and humidity. Furthermore, forested areas protect against rainfall and strong wind, muffle noise and filter air pollutants.
From a bioclimatic viewpoint a stay in the healing climate of St. Veit im Pongau is recommended for the following conditions:
