Ground stations

Data from survey networks allow the evolution of meteorological conditions on the ground to observe in real time. They represent a fundamental asset for climatological assessments also in the form of time series analyses.

Most of the surveys in Italy are carried out through a network of more than four thousand stations, mainly managed by the regions, which currently transmit the data to the Civil Protection Department for the assessment of risk conditions.

In addition to the regional networks, which in most cases only record information on temperature, precipitation and a few other parameters, data are available from the “synoptic” stations operated by the Italian Air Force Meteorological Service and National Agency for Flight Assistance (ENAV), which are included in the World Meteorological Organisation’s international telecommunication system.

The picture of the ground station network provides also the data offered by amateur networks, which represent an important additional source of information.