Articles | Volume 6, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-6-389-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-6-389-2015
Research article
 | 
24 Jun 2015
Research article |  | 24 Jun 2015

On studying relations between time series in climatology

V. Privalsky

Abstract. Relationships between time series are often studied on the basis of cross-correlation coefficients and regression equations. This approach is generally incorrect for time series, irrespective of the cross-correlation coefficient value, because relations between time series are frequency-dependent. Multivariate time series should be analyzed in both time and frequency domains, including fitting a parametric (preferably, autoregressive) stochastic difference equation to the time series and then calculating functions of frequency such as spectra and coherent spectra, coherences, and frequency response functions. The example with a bivariate time series "Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) – sea surface temperature in Niño area 3.4 (SST3.4)" proves that even when the cross correlation is low, the time series' components can be closely related to each other. A full time and frequency domain description of this bivariate time series is given. The AMO–SST3.4 time series is shown to form a closed-feedback loop system with a 2-year memory. The coherence between AMO and SST3.4 is statistically significant at intermediate frequencies where the coherent spectra amount up to 55 % of the total spectral densities. The gain factors are also described. Some recommendations are offered regarding time series analysis in climatology.

Download
Short summary
Connections between time series should be studied with methods developed in time series analysis rather than with cross-correlation coefficients and regression equations. The approach includes time series modeling in both time and frequency domains. Two climatic time series with zero cross correlation are shown to be closely connected at timescales from 2.5 to 10 years and a full time- and frequency-domain description of the system is given for this teleconnection in a climate system.
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint