Climate of Italy. A short historical overview

Ranging from legendary events of ancient times – such as Hannibal's crossing of the snow-covered Alps as well as the flooding of the Tiber River in imperial Rome – to accounts of early medieval floods; from the earliest meteorological instruments developed during the latter part of the Little Ice Age to the climatic events that marked the 20th century: this is the climate of Italy.

Luca Mercalli (Turin, 1966) is president of the Italian Meteorological Society, founder of the magazine Nimbus, author of monographs on the climate and glaciers of the Alps.

As a science journalist, has written thousands of articles over the past 35 years for La Repubblica, La Stampa, and Il Fatto Quotidiano.

He has given over 3,000 lectures and collaborated on Rai TV programmes (Che tempo che fa, TGR Montagne, Scala Mercalli) and Swiss Italian radio and television.

He is a European Climate Pact Ambassador and has been a scientific advisor to ISPRA. He has taught Environmental Sustainability at the University of Turin (SSST) and at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo.