Dr. Stefano Mariani is the Head of "Meteorological-Hydrological Analysis and Forecasting and Water Resources" Section at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). He completed his PhD studies in Mathematics at the University of Ferrara, Italy. His work in weather forecasting and verification, hydro-meteorological events and climate extremes, water resources and drought, and EO-based data and products has resulted in several publications in international journals, technical reports and guidelines, and presentations and lectures in training events.