European Demonstration Project Final Report
SEPT-NOV 2009

During the fall Dave Matthews met with partners Janez Polajnar and Gregor Gregoric at the EARS and Mitja Brilly, FGG to plan the final report and follow-on efforts.  Dave and Janez investigated a 100-yr flood event on the Sava near Kranjska Gora where over 200 mm of rain fell in late August.  Several large debris flows were located on the north and south slopes of the Sava valley.  Gregor discussed the DMCSEE drought monitoring project and need for soil moisture observations and high resolution modeling.  Dave took several trips to photograph water resources hydropower and control structure facilities and rivers from the Mura in the east to the Sava and Soca Rivers in the Julien Alps of the west.  Hyperlinks to photos are provided for the highlighted text.

Janez also took us on a sailing adventure across the Gulf of Trieste, where we experienced a moderate Bora on our return with 1.5 to 2 m waves and 20-30 kt winds from the NE. 

It was indeed an excellent study of air sea interaction – winds and waves which provided excellent material for water cycle and hydrometeorology lectures.  Dave presented WaterNet information in three lectures at the FGG, Civil Engineering Faculty,  University of Ljubljana.  The Bora induced waves provided a nice foundation for the study of valovi in the atmosphere which largely control precipitation.  EARS’s operational forecasting web site provided excellent examples of the 300 mb jet stream waves over Europe and their radar and INCA analyses measured the impacts on Slovenian padavine - precipitation.  Padavine accounts for about 40% of the water cycle fluxes, hence the importance of valovi - waves...

The Debris flows from the August Sava floods poured rocks and mud onto local farms in the valley.Below see Janez and flood debris in trees with rocks on farm fields behind a kozdec - hay drying rack.