What is insolation?
What Does insolation Mean
In order to know the meaning of the term insolation it is necessary, first of all, to discover its etymological origin. In this case, we can state that it is a word that derives from Latin, exactly from “insolatio”, which is the result of the union of several lexical components:
-The prefix “in-”, which can be translated as “inward ”.
-The noun “sol”, which means “sun”.
-The suffix “-cion”, which is used to indicate “action and effect”.
The insolation is the act and the result of insolar , whose first meaning according to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) refers to putting something in the sun to dry or promote fermentation. The concept of insolation, however, has several uses.
Heatstroke is the discomfort suffered by a person when he is exposed to the sun's rays in an excessive way . This exposure increases body temperature, especially of the head, and causes various disorders.
Heatstroke causes headache , drowsiness, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, and even in its most severe cases it can lead to seizures. When someone gets heatstroke, they have to be moved to a cool place and their skin should be moistened with a damp sponge. In addition, ice packs can be applied to the back, neck and other parts of the body so that, little by little, you can regain normal body temperature.
Likewise, it is recommended that you lie on your back and with your head and body slightly elevated, that you unbutton your clothes or take off those that are essential and that you hydrate yourself by drinking a little water, juice or lemonade.
To avoid sunstroke, it is best not to expose yourself to the sun's rays when the radiation is strongest (between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.), hydrate frequently with cold water and wear light-colored clothing.
In the same way, another series of measures are established that are essential to comply with to avoid sunstroke. We are referring to wearing suitable clothing that favors perspiration, to walk in the shade whenever possible, to carry out a fresh and light diet and even to wear a hat and sunglasses.
All those measures that are especially important to respect when enjoying a day at the beach or in the pool, for example.
The notion of insolation, on the other hand, refers to the amount of solar energy that a surface receives in a day or in a year. In the first case, we speak of daytime insolation , while in the second it refers to annual insolation .
To estimate insolation, you can measure the radiation in the upper part of the atmosphere , assume that there is no gaseous layer, or use a complex calculation that takes into account the atmospheric influence.
In addition to all the above, we cannot ignore that one of the best known works by the Galician writer Emilio Pardo Bazán (1851 - 1921) is entitled "Insolación". It is a novel that was published in 1889 and that tells the love story between a widowed marchioness and a handsome man from Cádiz.