Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.3
Annual sum of precipitation (mm) for the period 1961-1990 (by Sharov, In: Geography
of Bulgaria,
2002
)
As a resource climate finds application in power generation, climatic medical
treatment, recreation and tourism. In principle, all climatic resources are inex-
haustible and the more active is their utilization, or the higher is their share
compared to the utilization of other, exhaustible natural resources, the more sig-
nificant is the contribution of the respective human activity to sustainable social
development.
In the sphere of power generation two climatic elements are used as resources -
the sun and wind. They represent the basic renewable energy sources and it is
expected that their relative share with respect to the utilization of conventional
energy sources will be violently enhanced not only in dimension but in intensity.
The mountain regions represent one of the places with the most significant potential
for these two climatic resources.
With respect to wind the Bulgarian mountains are characterized by average
annual values of about 800-1,000 W/m
2
. Values are on average 300 W/m
2
for
the low-mountain regions, and about 2,000 W/m
2
in the high parts of the moun-
tains. In this connection the wind's speed is the most important characteristic, which
regularly increases with height, more intensively above 1000 m, but with a differ-
ent vertical gradient for different mountains - higher for Stara Mt. and Vitosha in
comparison to the Rila-Rhodopy massif for example. Bare, flat mountain ridges,
where single wind power generators or large-scale wind power parks may be situ-
ated, are the most suitable for wind power purposes. However, this depends also on
other important factors such as transport and electric power transfer accessibility,
ecological admissibility, land ownership, etc.
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