The Lazio region has recently introduced a new weather forecast model and a portal making it possible to monitor smog levels in the air.

The portal and the weather forecast model have been presented by the Environmental Assessor Filiberto Zaratti and the Lazio Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale - ARPA) Extraordinary Commissioner, Corrado Carrubba. The web site, http://www.arpalazio.net/main/aria/, provides information on the smog levels within the Lazio region and in 2 high risk levels areas, the cities of Rome and Frosinone; the site is also accessible by citizens, thus allowing data transparency.

The new weather forecast model allows making previsions for the high risk levels of smog for the following  24, 48 and 72 hours; when dangerous limits, as the ones established by the European directives, are about to be reached, the corresponding municipalities are immediately informed and therefore able to take proper action.

Mr. Carrubba explained that the new model is built upon four information sources: the weather forecast of the Lazio region and Central Italy, large scale forecast models, a model which monitors the polluting substances’ dispersion in the atmosphere taking also into account those produced by long distances transportations, and a latest source providing information on the foreseeable evolution of the polluting substances’ dispersion within the territory.

Further information:

• Original news item – Lazio Region website (in Italian)
• Arpa Lazio website (in Italian)
• www.arpalazio.net/main/aria/ website (in Italian)