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Abstract. The Special Observation Period (SOP1

Abstract. Within the framework of the European Interreg IIIb Medocc program, the HYDROPTIMET project aims at the optimization of the hydrometeorological forecasting tools in the context of intense precipitation within complex topography. Therefore, some meteorological forecast models and hydrological models were tested on four Mediterranean flash-flood events. One of them occured in France where the South-eastern ridge of the French "Massif Central", the Gard region, experienced a devastating flood on 8 and 9 September 2002. 24 people were killed during this event and the economic damage was estimated at 1.2 billion euros.To built the next generation of the hydrometeorological forecasting chain that will be able to capture such localized and fast events and the resulting discharges, the forecasted rain fields might be improved to be relevant for hydrological purposes.In such context, this paper presents the results of the evaluation methodology proposed by Yates et al. (2005) that highlights the relevant hydrological scales of a simulated rain field. Simulated rain fields of 7 meteorological model runs concerning with the French event are therefore evaluated for different accumulation times. The dynamics of these models are either based on non-hydrostatic or hydrostatic equation systems. Moreover, these models were run under different configurations (resolution, initial conditions). The classical score analysis and the areal evaluation of the simulated rain fields are then performed in order to put forward the main simulation characteristics that improve the quantitative precipitation forecast.Correspondence to: S. Anquetin (sandrine.anquetin@hmg.inpg.fr)The conclusions draw some recommendations on the value of the quantitative precipitation forecasts and way to use it for quantitative discharge forecasts within mountainous areas.

To obtain the offshore wind climatology over the whole Mediterranean region, European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) 6-hourly wind data over a grid resolution of 0·5° ¥ 0·5° for a period of 24 years have been retrieved. Data sets at 850 and 700 hPa pressure levels and 10 m above the surface were downloaded. For each grid point, mean wind speeds and Weibull probability density function parameters have been computed. As the wind field of ECMWF at 10 m is less accurate near the coast and in narrow basins, e.g. the Adriatic Sea, owing to the size of the mesh and land–sea mask smoothness, these statistics have been corrected, for each grid point, with the statistics produced using 2 year runs of a limited-area model with a grid size of 10 km. Results have been compared with experimental data from buoys, islands and ships in various regions of the basin.Maps of mean wind speeds and Weibull parameters are shown here for the whole Mediterranean Sea to illustrate these results

Abstract. Meteorological and hydrological monitoring and modeling, with particular regard for extreme hydrological events, represent important activities carried out by the Hydrological and Inland Waters Service of the Italian Agency for Environmental Protection and Technical Services (APAT).Recently, a study on the socio-economic effects of floods was published in the Italian Environmental Data Yearbook by APAT. It is based on processed data related to the major floods (i.e., events with at least a casualty or that have generated economic damages higher than 0.001% of the Gross Domestic Product) striking Italy between 1951 and 2003. Information was gathered from technical reports and/or databases belonging to APAT, Italian Regional Environmental Agencies (ARPAs), central and local authorities, research institutions and newspaper reports. These data are collected in tables reporting the number of flood events and of casualties and the amount of financial resources required for environmental restoration and/or for risk mitigation purposes.For year 2003, when APAT has begun a systematic monitoring of flood events in Italy, data concerning rainfall, number of persons involved, evacuation and urgent measures introduced to face the event (laws and acts) are also included. In this way, it was possible to realize a new database, in which flood events that caused the declaration of the state of emergency have been collected. Because of the difficulties in finding sufficiently reliable data for the period before the II World War, the collection of historical data started from 1951. During this period, about 50% of the flood events examined have caused at least 5 victims each, and about 10% more than 100; these data highlight the considerable social impact of flood events and suggest the importance of creating an integrated database to collect information about flood events involving all Europe.These two databases (the historical and updating archives) could be useful for taking into account the different anthropicCorrespondence to: B. Lastoria (barbara.lastoria@apat.it) impacts during the time, the real effectiveness of protection measures already realized and could represent a valid reference for further interventions.