The Air Force partners with the Carabinieri for the “Carabinieri: Italian Biodiversity Keepers” exhibition”
Last May 9th, at the United Nations Palace, New York, within the exhibition “Carabinieri: Custodi della Biodiversità Italiana”, the Head of the General Office of Air Force Aviation and Meteorology of the Air Force Staff, General B. Luca Baione illustrated the duties and activities of the Meteorological Service of the Air Force nationally and internationally.
In the context of the collaboration that has been ongoing for years with the Carabinieri Command for Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units – CUFAA, within the exhibition describing the Carabinieri's commitment to protecting Italy's flora and fauna, a large exhibition area has been dedicated to the Italian Air Force's Meteorological Service, with multimedia material, a navigable area of the new weather website (www.meteoam.itand graphic panels describing the peculiarities of the Armed Forces' observation network.
“The multiple and complex activities carried out by the Meteorological Service make the Air Force the national and international point of reference for meteorology and climatology in Italy.”, these were the words of Gen. Baione at the conclusion of his speech.
The Italian Air Force has always performed the functions of National Meteorological Service, ensuring the community, 24 hours a day and every day of the year, essential information through:
• The dissemination of weather forecasts across various media (television, radio, socialand computer applications;
• adherence to international standards for a widespread network of ground-based sensors, carrying out 12 radiosonde ascents per day, acquiring meteorological data from European satellite constellations, data exchange with equivalent international services, and cutting-edge processing capabilities within a centralised operations room;
• the provision to the Department of Civil Protection of national and local weather forecasts;
• monitoring the atmosphere for the study of climate change, through its own world-renowned centres which hold globally significant historical databases;
• the issuance of messages relating to phenomena dangerous for air navigation, for the benefit of civil and military aviation;
• support for military operations and exercises, both domestically and abroad, through the production of climatological dossiers, weather phenomenon forecast maps, and analysis of impacts on military activities;
• monitoring of the Weather in space space meteorology – and its impact on the country's critical technologies and infrastructure through the issuance of four bulletins per day and the development of new methodologies.
The functions are not limited exclusively to the national sphere, given that the Italian Air Force Meteorological Service represents Italy in the main international contexts.
In the Defence sector, the Italian Air Force Meteorological Service:
– participates in European and NATO forums on climate and meteorology;
– provides meteorology and climatology experts for NATO/EU operational activities and for out-of-area missions (Middle East and North Africa regions);
– carries out monitoring of Mount Etna's volcanic activity and forecasts the movement of volcanic ash for the benefit of national civil and military aviation and for NATO interests at Sigonella Air Base (Sicily).
Furthermore, the Head of the General Office of Military Aviation and Meteorology, as the head of the Air Force Meteorological Service, performs the functions of:
Permanent Representative of Italy to the World Meteorological Organization;
– Head of the national delegation to the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts – ECMWF);
– National delegation leader at the EUMETNET Assembly – European Multi-service Meteorological Awareness.
The Armed Forces' interest also extends to the areas of search And of the Scientific training, seeking to promote and raise awareness among young people on issues relating to climate change.
