The Tagliamento is a torrential river in North East Italy and flows approximately 178 km before it reaches the Adriatic sea. The river basin area is about 2800 sq. Km, and the annual precipitation is high, on average 2000mm but reaching 3000mm in parts of the mountainous area. The Tagliamento area experienced disastrous flooding events in 1966 which caused extensive damage to property and also claimed the loss of human life. At present the calibration of the hydrodynamic and hydrological models is being carried out. These models are to be linked to a Digital Elevation Model of the flood plain in order to produce simulated flood maps. Later in the pilot study, SAR derived flood maps, soil moisture data and GMI sensor measurements will be used to enhance the performance of the conventional models.

Once fully calibrated the Tagliamento model will be utilised to simulate the impacts of increasing flooding due to global warming. The effects of possible mitigation and prevention measures i.e. provision of floodable polders, construction of embankments, etc. will be investigated. WAMM is to become the tool for devising effective flood management policies and issuing warnings during inundation. This activity is particularly sponsored by the Italian Ministry of Environment, who plays the guiding role in Italy for the adaptation to climate change in accordance with the recommendations by the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Changes - UNFCC.