Severe testing and characterization of change points in climate time series

Ricketts, James and Jones, Roger ORCID: 0000-0001-6970-2797 (2021) Severe testing and characterization of change points in climate time series. In: Recent Advances in Numerical Simulations. Bulnes, Francisco and Hessling, Jan Peter, eds. Intech Open, London, UK, pp. 1-31.

Abstract

This paper applies misspecification (M-S) testing to the detection of abrupt changes in climate regimes as part of undertaking severe testing of climate shifts versus trends. Severe testing, proposed by Mayo and Spanos, provides severity criteria for evaluating statistical inference using probative criteria, requiring tests that would find any flaws present. Applying M-S testing increases the severity of hypothesis testing. We utilize a systematic approach, based on well-founded principles that combines the development of probative criteria with error statistical testing. Given the widespread acceptance of trend-like change in climate, especially temperature, tests that produce counter-examples need proper specification. Reasoning about abrupt shifts embedded within a complex times series requires detection methods sensitive to level changes, accurate in timing, and tolerant of simultaneous changes of trend, variance, autocorrelation, and red-drift, given that many of these measures may shift together. Our preference is to analyse the raw data to avoid pre-emptive assumptions and test the results for robustness. We use a simple detection method, based on the Maronna-Yohai (MY) test, then re-assess nominated shift-points using tests with varied null hypotheses guided by M-S testing. Doing so sharpens conclusions while avoiding an over-reliance on data manipulation, which carries its own assumptions.

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Item type Book Section
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/44174
Edition 1st
DOI 10.5772/intechopen.98364
Official URL https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/77644
ISBN 9781839693151
Subjects Current > FOR (2020) Classification > 3801 Applied economics
Current > Division/Research > Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities
Keywords climate time series, numerical simulation, advanced mathematics, climate change
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