The situation of meteorology in Italy: an independent overview

At the end of April 2006, people who had previous contacts with the General Office for Meteorology (Ufficio Generale per la Meteorologia, or UGM) of Italy received a short note on the letterhead of Aerial Squadron Command-General Office for Meteorology of the Italian Air Force. The subject of this note, signed by Gen. Massimo Capaldo, the head of the UGM, was the constitution of a new General Office for Aerial Space and Meteorology (Ufficio Generale Spazio Aereo e Meteorologia, or USAM) starting on 1 May 2006. Gen. Capaldo did not explain the reason for the change. The note also stated that starting on the same day the UGM was terminated, the personnel of UGM transferred to the new office. The purpose of USAM is to support the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana) chief of staff with technical direction and development of meteorological techniques. USAM also represents Italy in international organizations like the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The purpose of the new office was therefore very similar to the old UGM, but the personnel was significantly reduced to about one-third (from 70 to about 20 people), so the change seemed dictated at least in part by economic factors. Indeed, the operational meteorology branch, the National Center for Aeronautical Meteorology and Climatology (Centro Nazionale di Meteorologia e Climatologia Aeronautica, or CNMCA), has remained as before, with more than 850 employees. Among the tasks of this center are the dissemination Marzanoof forecasts for the air force and for national civil protection and to safeguard life at sea. In analyzing the meaning of this change from UGM to USAM, we will try to give an overview of both current and possible future scenarios of meteorology in Italy.