**5. Validation of model results with in situ measurement campaigns**

In 2009 several field campaigns took place in order to observe the hydrodynamics at the outfall, to measure the velocities of the flow and the water quality parameters in order to validate the model. The measurements were performed with the support of a Bellingardo 550 motorboat utilizing a Geo-nav 6sun GPS system, a Navman 4431 ultrasonic transducer and an YSI556 multi-parameter probe. Morphologic, hydraulic and water quality measurements were executed into the transition estuary of the harbour canal and near the mouth. The dispersion area and profile distribution of freshwater outgoing from the harbour mouth and discharged in the coastal area was investigated and monitored. Experiments were carried out on June 2009 and September 2009. The surface currents were observed with the aim of drifters properly designed to follow the surface pollution and oil (Archetti, 2009). The drifters (Fig. 5) were equipped with a GPS to acquire the geographical position every 5 minutes and an IRIDIUM satellite system was used to send data to a server. Simultaneously, tide, waves, wind and rainfall conditions were collected.
