Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia

Research activities have the target of the updating and further developing activities concerning the evaluation of the climate changes at the global scale, with a particular emphasis on geographical areas where the Italian interests are stronger (Mediterranean and Euro-Atlantic region) and on areas with the highest scientific relevance (tropics, monsoon systems, teleconnections with high latitudes). Therefore, the “Dynamical Climatology” Unit focus is on the study, primarily through numerical simulations and theoretical studies, of the natural climate variability and climatic changes induced by anthropogenic effects. The tools available consist of numerical models of different complexity, from simple linear models to general coupled atmosphere-ocean models. Such models are used also for the production of climate change predictions at different time frequencies both at global and regional scales. An ocean general circulation model used in combination with sea level height satellite observations and in-situ temperature and salinity data coming from different international institutions can produce global ocean analyses and initial conditions for the seasonal forecasting activities.