The AnnAGNPS model was used to estimate runoff, peak discharge and sediment yield at the event scale in the Carapelle watershed, a Mediterranean medium-size watershed (506 km2) located in Apulia, Southern Italy. The model was calibrated and validated using five years of runoff and sediment yield data measured at a monitoring station located at Ordona – Ponte dei Sauri Bridge. A total of 36 events was used to estimate the output of the model during the period 2007-2011, in comparison to the corresponding observations at the watershed outlet. The model performed well in predicting runoff, as was testified by the high values of the coefficients of efficiency and determination during the validation process. The peak flows predictions were satisfactory especially for the high flow events; the prediction capability of sediment yield was good, even if a slight over-estimation was observed.

In Northern Puglia watershed's high rates of suspended sediment loads occur along the hydrographic network during intense rainfall events. In order to monitor this phenomenon an automated station, equipped with a turbidity probe, has been set up in the Carapelle torrent. A laboratory testing stage of the turbidity probe was preliminary designed to evaluate the dual functionality of the instrument (turbidity and suspended solids) in relation with the sediment concentration and the grain size distribution. Successively a field calibration of the instrument was carried out to determine the relationship between optical and gravimetric data and to check the housing device. Afterwards, the high temporal resolution data collected over a 2-year period (2007-2008) were used to analyze the sediment transport dynamics at event scale. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This work focuses on the monitoring and modeling of suspended sediment concentration in rivers in semi-arid environments. The optical technology is used in the Carapelle torrent (Southern Italy) for continuous measurements in order to capture the flows that effectively contribute to the sediment transport. High temporal resolution data, recorded in the period 2007-2010, were analyzed to investigate the relationships between suspended sediment concentration SSC and discharge Q. A possible trend of the suspended sediment transport in semiarid zones was evaluated considering the relationship between SSCmax and Qp at the event scale reported by other Authors. The continuous monitoring was the basis for modeling erosion and sediment transport at the basin scale. The AnnAGNPS model was calibrated and validated for runoff, peak discharge and sediment load.