Adaptation strain index for tourists traveling from central and northern Europe to the Mediterranean

Résumé 0

One of the principal features of climate is its spatial variability. Long distance travels are an essential part of life in contemporary societies. In 2012 tourism arrivals reached 1 billion people at the global scale. In a short time one can move to extremely different climatic conditions and one's organism is under great pressure of atmospheric stimuli which can be very different from those experienced at home. Spatial differences in climate stimuli need various adaptation strategies in humans. The paper considers adaptation strain in tourists from seven central and northern European cities travelling to the Mediterranean regions of Barcelona, Rome and Athens for the period 1991-2000. The adaptation strain index (ASI) was applied for this purpose. Seasonal and spatial patterns of bioclimatic contrasts are considered. Summer was the season with greatest spatially differentiated adaptation strain, but in winter the need for adaptation was the highest.