166
Secchi was aware of how important it was to have many observation points on
the territory for continuous weather monitoring over long periods (Secchi 1858:
102) and therefore for the study of climate change. Such a system, which today we
call a “weather network,” represents the reliable information base necessary to recognize indications of climate change in the very long-term trends of atmospheric
phenomena:
We will know the general physical causes that are changing our climate, as well as the local
ones […].It is desirable that the number of observatories increase and instead of being all in
the same place, […], they are also located in neighboring countries where there is a real
need for data. […] Secondary observatories, cooperating with a primary one, would make
an immense service for the knowledge of climate changes dependent on the local causes, of
which we are still very deficient in knowledge. (Secchi 1866: 21)
11
Thus, the original concept of the “Telegraphic Meteorological Exchange” involved
the inclusion of additional meteorological observatories located in the Papal States
(Manzi 1857). However, this Exchange ceased operations in January 1859, when
the second war of Italian Independence led to the fall of the Papal States.
But even after the “Correspondence” had ceased to function, Angelo Secchi
maintained a local network that included the meteorological stations of Rome
Campidoglio, Frascati (Villa Mondragone), Grottaferrata (Monte Cavo), and Tivoli
and an exchange with the meteorological observatories of Subiaco (directed by
engineer Angelo Alvarez), Urbino (directed by Father Alessandro
Serpieri [1823–1885]), and Velletri (directed by priest Ignazio Galli [1841–1920]),
as well as with foreign Jesuit ones (Secchi 1862).
9.5.2 The Paris International Meteorological Correspondence
In 1857 the Collegio Romano Observatory joined the “International
Meteorological Correspondence” that Urbain Le Verrier was launching at the Paris
Impérial Observatory to produce weather forecasts and issue appropriate storm
warnings for the French Navy and the main European ports. Le Verrier’s Telegraphic
Meteorological Correspondence was based on the approach that Father Secchi had
already introduced in his “Weather Service” (Secchi 1861). Thus, Secchi wrote:
Every morning we send a telegram to Paris containing the observations made at 7 am [at the
Collegio Romano and regarding temperature, humidity and precipitation] and other infor11 Checché ne sia di ciò, se si seguiterà a studiare i fenomeni atmosferici con quell’ardore che si fa
da qualche anno a questa parte, certamente non si andrà molto che meglio, si conosceranno quelle
cause generali di ordine fisico che modificano il nostro clima, e le locali che ci circondano […]
sarebbe desiderabile che si estendessero i centri di osservazione e che … venissero estesi ai paesi
limitrofi ove è un reale bisogno di dati. […]Questi osservatorii secondarii osservando di concerto
con uno primario, renderebbero un immenso servizio per conoscere la modificazione del clima
dipendente dalle cause locali, sulle quali siamo ancora assai deficienti in cognizioni.
L. Iafrate and M. C. Beltrano
Secchi was aware of how important it was to have many observation points on
the territory for continuous weather monitoring over long periods (Secchi 1858:
102) and therefore for the study of climate change. Such a system, which today we
call a “weather network,” represents the reliable information base necessary to recognize indications of climate change in the very long-term trends of atmospheric
phenomena:
We will know the general physical causes that are changing our climate, as well as the local
ones […].It is desirable that the number of observatories increase and instead of being all in
the same place, […], they are also located in neighboring countries where there is a real
need for data. […] Secondary observatories, cooperating with a primary one, would make
an immense service for the knowledge of climate changes dependent on the local causes, of
which we are still very deficient in knowledge. (Secchi 1866: 21)
11
Thus, the original concept of the “Telegraphic Meteorological Exchange” involved
the inclusion of additional meteorological observatories located in the Papal States
(Manzi 1857). However, this Exchange ceased operations in January 1859, when
the second war of Italian Independence led to the fall of the Papal States.
But even after the “Correspondence” had ceased to function, Angelo Secchi
maintained a local network that included the meteorological stations of Rome
Campidoglio, Frascati (Villa Mondragone), Grottaferrata (Monte Cavo), and Tivoli
and an exchange with the meteorological observatories of Subiaco (directed by
engineer Angelo Alvarez), Urbino (directed by Father Alessandro
Serpieri [1823–1885]), and Velletri (directed by priest Ignazio Galli [1841–1920]),
as well as with foreign Jesuit ones (Secchi 1862).
9.5.2 The Paris International Meteorological Correspondence
In 1857 the Collegio Romano Observatory joined the “International
Meteorological Correspondence” that Urbain Le Verrier was launching at the Paris
Impérial Observatory to produce weather forecasts and issue appropriate storm
warnings for the French Navy and the main European ports. Le Verrier’s Telegraphic
Meteorological Correspondence was based on the approach that Father Secchi had
already introduced in his “Weather Service” (Secchi 1861). Thus, Secchi wrote:
Every morning we send a telegram to Paris containing the observations made at 7 am [at the
Collegio Romano and regarding temperature, humidity and precipitation] and other infor11 Checché ne sia di ciò, se si seguiterà a studiare i fenomeni atmosferici con quell’ardore che si fa
da qualche anno a questa parte, certamente non si andrà molto che meglio, si conosceranno quelle
cause generali di ordine fisico che modificano il nostro clima, e le locali che ci circondano […]
sarebbe desiderabile che si estendessero i centri di osservazione e che … venissero estesi ai paesi
limitrofi ove è un reale bisogno di dati. […]Questi osservatorii secondarii osservando di concerto
con uno primario, renderebbero un immenso servizio per conoscere la modificazione del clima
dipendente dalle cause locali, sulle quali siamo ancora assai deficienti in cognizioni.
L. Iafrate and M. C. Beltrano