Preface

**Section 3 Paleoclimate and Geo-Environments 185**

**VI** Contents

**Territories, Canada 207**

**Tropical Urban Pond 225**

Renato Zázera Francioso

Chapter 7 **Itajuba yansanae Gen and SP NOV of Gnetales, Araripe Basin**

Chapter 8 **Fractal Nature of the Band-Thickness in the Archean Banded**

Fresia Ricardi-Branco, Margarita Torres, Sandra S. Tavares, Ismar de Souza Carvalho, Paulo G. E. Tavares and Antonio C. Arruda Campos

**Iron Formation in the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt, Northwest**

Nagayoshi Katsuta, Ichiko Shimizu, Masao Takano, Shin-ichi Kawakami, Herwart Helmstaedt and Mineo Kumazawa

Sueli Yoshinaga Pereira, Melina Mara de Souza, Fresia Ricardi-Branco, Paulo Ricardo Brum Pereira, Fabio Cardinale Branco and

**Sustainable Water Resource Management in Hard Rock Hydrogeological Environment Using RS- GIS 235**

Chapter 9 **Trace Elements and Palynomorphs in the Core Sediments of a**

Chapter 10 **Mapping of Lineaments for Groundwater Targeting and**

Pothiraj Prabu and Baskaran Rajagopalan

**(Albian-Aptian) in Northeast Brazil 187**

Callado et al. provide an ensemble forecasting using different methods. A brief review is first introduced and then the ensemble prediction systems are described. The uncertainty representation and weather forecasting products show a possible range of ensemble predic‐ tion. The verification of ensemble forecast is also provided to compare the performance us‐ ing two different forecasting models. The predictability associated to any forecasted atmospheric state is always spatially and temporally limited but depending on each fore‐ cast, on the uncertainty magnitude and the particular atmospheric situation. The sources of errors and uncertainties of the ensemble forecasting are also analyzed.

Tudor et al. give an overview on weather forecasting using the set-up of the NWP model ALADIN that is used for operational weather forecast in CMHS as an example for opera‐ tional weather forecasting. ALADIN is a state-of-the-art modern NWP model. Using ALA‐ DIN, shortcomings and challenges in modern operational weather forecasting are especially discussed. A high-resolution LAM is intended to predict the sub-synoptic weather features forced by topography or other local characteristics that can be absent in the main synoptic pattern. However, the flaws of the operational suite have encouraged the introduction of the 2 km resolution 24 hour forecast with NH ALADIN set-up using the complete set of physics parametrizations.

Hautiere et al. present two different camera-based systems to estimate the visibility distance. These systems could be integrated in ITS stations to alert drivers as well public authorities in case of fog hazard. The system is dedicated to safety-critical visibility ranges but needs a high-resolution camera along with a simple calibration process.

Collins et al. provide an overview of different types of grids that are used in numerical weather and climate models. A brief history of model grids starting from the days of L. F. Richardson is included. The relative advantages and disadvantages of rectangular, triangu‐ lar and hexagonal grids are discussed along with a description of horizontal, vertical and time staggering. The authors also briefly discuss some other aspects related to grids, name‐ ly, grid-splitting, nested grids, mesh refinement, and dependence of parameterization scheme on grid-spacing.

Ren et al. estimates the sea level rise (SLR) from ice sheet melting in a warming climate us‐ ing a new ice dynamics model, called SEFMENT-Ice. This model is superior to the current coupled general circulation models (CGCMs), since they are not coupled with sophisticated land-ice models. The authors document the effects on the SLR from melting of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and due to landslides in west Antarctica. The authors also discuss the severe societal impacts of SLR on the coastal communities around the world.

Zhong et al. documents the sensitivity of regional climate simulations to the lateral boundary schemes and tropical cyclones over East Asia during the summer monsoon season. In particu‐ lar, effects of nudging parameters on cyclone track and on the intensity of western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) are explored. They also show that the presence of tropical cyclones within the model domain can severely limit the skill of regional climate simulations due to the model's inability to correctly capture the structure, intensity and track of the cyclones.

Ricardi-Branco et al. describe a new species of the morphology and anatomy of a fertile fos‐ sil, Itajuba yansanae. It was collected in the Araripe basin in Brazil, in the sedimentary rocks of the Santana Formation. This new species introduced one more taxon which contributes to a better understanding of the diversity of the Crato paleoflora during the Early Cretaceous period (Aptian-Albian). A conclusion has been drawn regarding the paleoclimate environ‐ ment when this taxon proliferated.

Katsuta et al. analyze the banded structures in Archean Banded iron formations (BIFs) using a nondestructive micro- X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging technique. BIFs are chemically precipitated deposits on the Precambrian sea floor and are characterized by alternations of repeat Fe-rich and Si-rich layers in the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt (Canada). The XRF tech‐ nique has been used recently to determine the distribution of major and trace elements in Quaternary sediments and Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks for characterizing the paleocli‐ matic and paleoenvironmental information.

Pereira et al. provide the presence of trace elements (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Ni, Pb, Th, V and Zn) and Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO and Loss on Ignition in recent sediments 25 of the lagoon and correlate it with the occurrence of pollen and spores derived from the surrounding vegeta‐ tion. As the urban lake has sediments with adverse registers for the elements Cr, Ni and Zn, these elements are possibly due to sewage discharge from urban occupation and surround‐ ing services. The study shows that in those areas are strongly impacted by human activities the concentration of toxic elements in fine and anoxic sediments, the preservation of the as‐ semblages of palynomorphs may occur, as this polluted environment does not allow for the survival of microorganisms and invertebrates that feed on organic matter.

Prabu presents the mapping of lineaments for groundwater targeting and sustainable water resource management in hard rock hydrogeological environment using RS-GIS. In particu‐ lar, groundwater occurrences in hard formations are mainly controlled by the lineaments corresponding to fractures, joints and faults. The distribution of lineament is closely related to groundwater discharge points and their concentration. The study suggested that the high lineament intersection and density should be combed with detailed geo-electrical surveys for quantitative evaluation of the groundwater potential of the study area.

**Acknowledgements:** The completion of this book was made possible by the patient and dedicated efforts of Ms. Viktorija Zgela and her team in InTech. We also thank several anon‐ ymous reviewers for their comments. Although the authors are responsible for the content in their chapters, we accept responsibility for the presence of any inadvertent errors.

> **Yuanzhi Zhang** Chinese University of Hong Kong, China **Pallav Ray** Florida Institute of Technology, USA

**Section 1**

**Weather Forecasting**

**Section 1**
