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ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ASTROPHYSICS
Opening of a Centre for the Study of Solar Variability in Rome
The new research centre will help us understand the effects
Of the Sun’s variations upon the Earth’s climate.
The data will be made available to the Public Authorities.
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The Centre for the Study of Solar Variabilità will be officially opened on January 23, 2004 at
the Astronomical Observatory of Rome, which belongs to INAF, at Monte Porzio Catone.
This Centre operates on the basis of a scientific cooperation between the Astronomical
Observatory of Rome, the Department of Physics of Rome University “Tor Vergata” and the
National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology (INGV). It has been established and financed by
the “Regione Lazio” with a special bill. Its task is the promotion and development of research in
the field of variability of the Sun’s emissions and of the environment between the Sun and the
Earth, in the framework of the European Union programmes, as well as of programmes created by
National and International institutions. The synergy among these three scientific institutes, which
constitute the CVS, guarantees a high level of skills and resources in the specific fields of solar
variability, of the Sun-Earth relations, as well as of the environmental and climate studies .
The official opening, which will be attended by the Governor of the “Regione Lazio”, Mr.
Francesco Storace, as well as by the Councillor, Mr. Angiolo Marroni, promoter of the CVS bill,
counts among several institutional guests, among whom the Environment Minister, Mr. Altero
Matteoli, and is accompanied by a conference about the problem of global warming, as well as
about the role of the Sun in climat changes, sponsored by the Environment Ministry.
Scientists coming from National and Foreign Research Institutes will also intervene.
Among them, we can cite Prof. Antonio Navarra of INGV, Prof. Giuseppe Orombelli of the
University Bicocca of Milan, Prof. Sabatino Sofia of Yale University, Prof. Gerard Thuillier of the
Service d’Aèronomie du CNRS and Prof. Judit Pap, of Maryland University - NASA/Goddard Space
Flight Center.
The CVS goals will be illustrated in a press conference, which will take place at 10.00 a.m.
The Sun is a very stable star, which only bears small variations in its emission of
radiations. These variations, which are small from the astronomical point of view, certainly have an
influence upon the Earth atmosphere and biosphere. Our current scientific knowledge of these
topics are rather scarce: therefore, by focussing our attentino upon solar variations, it is possible to
better understand their influence upon the Earth.
The measurements obtained thanks to more and more sophisticated technologies used both in
round and space observatories have showed that the radiation flux coming from the Sun is not
constant, but rather varies together with the eleven-year cycle of magnetic activity of the Sun.
According to the general opinion of the scientific community, these variations might significantly
contribute significativo to current climate changes.
The CVS scientists will address this goal in their researches. The Centre will give its
technical and scientific support to the Public Authorities, among which the Civil Protection, and will
provide an updated database, accessible to scientists as well as to the general public, with the
relevant data for a better knowledge of the global warming. The Centre will also carry out highlevel training, by offering grants too, and will not overlook public outreach activities.
Contacts
Prof. Roberto Buonanno
[email protected]
cell. 349 5700170
website www.inaf.it CVS website http://www.mporzio.astro.it/cvsINAF Astronomical Observatory of
Rome, via di Frascati, 33 – 00040 Monte Porzio Catone
Viale del Parco Mellini, 84 I-00136 Roma, Italia
www.inaf.it / [email protected]