The CNMCA hosted the 5th International Meeting on High-Resolution Modelling Verification. The VERSUS system consists of a complex set of software applications dedicated to the objective verification of numerical weather prediction models, created to compare them, through sophisticated statistical methods, with the instrumental observations from the Italian Air Force Meteorological Service’s observation network. The system was developed by the CNMCA, with Captain Angela Celozzi as “project leader”, as part of an Italian-led project aimed at creating a unique and common tool for verification within the consortium of nations known as COSMO (COnsortium for SMall scale mOdelling –
www.cosmo-model.org), which, in addition to Italy, includes Germany, Switzerland, Greece, Poland, Romania, and Russia. The COSMO consortium, in turn, was established in October 1998 with the aim of developing, improving, and maintaining a limited-area non-hydrostatic atmospheric model for its operational and research use. During the meeting, now in its 5th year, recent operational implementations were discussed and presented, and the system's developments up to 2015 were planned.
All the nations of the consortium and representatives from the Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna regions participated in these efforts. It is worth noting the participation of Dr. Michal Zemianski, Scientific Program Manager of the COSMO consortium, who, in addition to making a valuable contribution to the scientific discussion, emphasised the importance of the project for the meteorology of the member countries. The CNMCA is the central operational body of the Air Force's Meteorological Service. It is responsible for the reception, processing, and dissemination, both nationally and internationally, of conventional and satellite weather data and information. It produces and distributes basic meteorological analyses and forecasts for the specific needs of the Armed Force and for aviation and general users. It produces and disseminates weather advisories for Civil Protection and for the safeguarding of life at sea. It manages meteorological databases and is responsible for the analysis, design, and development of new products for the needs of the Service's bodies.
The CNMCA is based at the “Mario De Bernardi” airport in Pratica di Mare, Pomezia (Rome) and is currently headed by Colonel Massimo Ferri.
