HYDROLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE MESOSCALE ALPINE PROGRAMME: FINDINGS FROM FIELD EXPERIMENTS AND SIMULATIONS

Abstract

Results of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme provide some answers to basic scientific questions of hydrological relevance posed in its scientific plan i.e: 1. verify the forecasting capabilities of a hydrological flood model, forced by the special measurements or coupled with advanced mesoscale atmospheric prediction models; 2. assess the role of the water storage in reservoirs on the runoff generation during floods in mountainous regions; 3. study the influence of soil moisture conditions prior to flood events in determining the production of runoff and investigate the capabilities and limitations of some soil moisture monitoring techniques over rugged terrain. Summary results from investigations in some areas in the southern (Toce, Ticino, Verzasca and Maggia watersheds) and northern (Ammer watershed) side of the Alps during the Mesoscale Alpine Programme and the 1999 Special Observing Period experiment are presented