Long-Term Evolution and Challenges of Hydrological Observations at the Fiumarella Basin in Southern Italy

Hydrological observations are essential for understanding the complex interactions between the land surface and the atmosphere, improving water resource management, strengthening flood defense, and advancing hydrological modeling. However, the long-term maintenance of experimental basins like Fiumarella di Corleto presents significant challenges, requiring continuous updates to address environmental changes and technological advancements. This study reviews over 20 years of observations at the Fiumarella basin in Southern Italy, focusing on its evolution, challenges, and future directions. The Fiumarella basin, covering an area of 32.5 km², includes a sub-basin of 0.65 km². Since 2002, a hydrometeorological network has been monitoring key variables such as rainfall, temperature, wind, and streamflow, capturing hydrological variability across spatial and temporal scales. In 2006, 22 soil moisture probes were installed along a 60-meter transect at depths of 30 and 60 cm. Additionally, high-resolution LiDAR data and pedological studies have enhanced the understanding of the basin’s morphology and soil characteristics. The maintenance of this experimental basin has posed substantial challenges. Frequent extreme flood events have resulted in significant damage to hydrometric stations, requiring reconstruction and recalibration. Moreover, the sediment and debris accumulation in the retention basin of the sub-basin necessitated periodic clearing to maintain functionality and ensure continuous data collection. These challenges underscore the effort and adaptability required to sustain long-term monitoring in dynamic environments. Data collected from the basin have significantly contributed to hydrological science. Analyses of peak flow events and antecedent soil moisture conditions have provided insights into flood response mechanisms. Spatial and temporal variability in hydrological processes has informed the calibration and validation of semi-distributed hydrological models, enhancing their accuracy and reliability. These findings highlight the importance of integrating diverse datasets such as soil moisture, precipitation, topography, and land use—for comprehensive hydrological research. Looking ahead, planned upgrades aim to further enhance the basin’s capabilities. The installation of a meteorological radar would improve rainfall measurement precision and expand spatial coverage, thereby addressing existing data gaps. Additional hydrometric sensors and automated systems would increase the granularity and reliability of observations, supporting high-resolution analyses. These advancements will ensure that the Fiumarella basin remains a state-of-the-art research facility capable of addressing emerging challenges in hydrology and climate science.

This abstract is part of the project NODES which has received funding from the MUR-M4C2 1.5 of PNRR funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU (Grant agreement no. ECS00000036).

The present research has been carried out within the RETURN Extended Partnership and received funding from the European Union Next-Generation EU (National Recovery and Resilience Plan -NRRP, Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.3 - D.D. 1243 2/8/2022, PE0000005).