A Nonlinear Time Series Workshop

The complex dynamic behavior exhibited by many nonlinear systems - chaos, episodic volatility bursts, stochastic regimes switching - has attracted a good deal of attention in recent years. A Nonlinear Time Series Workshop provides the reader with both the statistical background and the software tools necessary for detecting nonlinear behavior in time series data. The most useful existing detection techniques are described, including Engle's LaGrange Multiplier test for conditional hetero-skedasticity and tests based on the correlation dimension and on the estimated bispectrum. These techniques are illustrated using actual data from fields such as economics, finance, engineering, and geophysics.

This book provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art of nonlinear time series analysis, richly illustrated with examples, pseudocode algorithms and real-world applications. Avoiding a “theorem-proof” format, it shows concrete applications on a variety of empirical time series. The book can be used in graduate courses in nonlinear time series and at the same time also includes interesting material for more advanced readers. Though it is largely self-contained, readers require an understanding of basic linear time series concepts, Markov chains and Monte Carlo simulation methods. The book covers time-domain and frequency-domain methods for the analysis of both univariate and multivariate (vector) time series. It makes a clear distinction between parametric models on the one hand, and semi- and nonparametric models/methods on the other. This offers the reader the option of concentrating exclusively on one of these nonlinear time series analysis methods. To make the book as user friendly as possible, major supporting concepts and specialized tables are appended at the end of every chapter. In addition, each chapter concludes with a set of key terms and concepts, as well as a summary of the main findings. Lastly, the book offers numerous theoretical and empirical exercises, with answers provided by the author in an extensive solutions manual.

This is the first book that integrates useful parametric and nonparametric techniques with time series modeling and prediction, the two important goals of time series analysis. Such a book will benefit researchers and practitioners in various fields such as econometricians, meteorologists, biologists, among others who wish to learn useful time series methods within a short period of time. The book also intends to serve as a reference or text book for graduate students in statistics and econometrics.

A comprehensive resource that draws a balance between theory and applications of nonlinear time series analysis Nonlinear Time Series Analysis offers an important guide to both parametric and nonparametric methods, nonlinear state-space models, and Bayesian as well as classical approaches to nonlinear time series analysis. The authors—noted experts in the field—explore the advantages and limitations of the nonlinear models and methods and review the improvements upon linear time series models. The need for this book is based on the recent developments in nonlinear time series analysis, statistical learning, dynamic systems and advanced computational methods. Parametric and nonparametric methods and nonlinear and non-Gaussian state space models provide a much wider range of tools for time series analysis. In addition, advances in computing and data collection have made available large data sets and high-frequency data. These new data make it not only feasible, but also necessary to take into consideration the nonlinearity embedded in most real-world time series. This vital guide: • Offers research developed by leading scholars of time series analysis • Presents R commands making it possible to reproduce all the analyses included in the text • Contains real-world examples throughout the book • Recommends exercises to test understanding of material presented • Includes an instructor solutions manual and companion website Written for students, researchers, and practitioners who are interested in exploring nonlinearity in time series, Nonlinear Time Series Analysis offers a comprehensive text that explores the advantages and limitations of the nonlinear models and methods and demonstrates the improvements upon linear time series models.

Streamflow forecasting is of great importance to water resources management and flood defense. On the other hand, a better understanding of the streamflow process is fundamental for improving the skill of streamflow forecasting. The methods for forecasting streamflows may fall into two general classes: process-driven methods and data-driven methods. Equivalently, methods for understanding streamflow processes may also be broken into two categories: physically-based methods and mathematically-based methods. This thesis focuses on using mathematically-based methods to analyze stochasticity and nonlinearity of streamflow processes based on univariate historic streamflow records, and presents data-driven models that are also mainly based on univariate streamflow time series. Six streamflow processes of five rivers in different geological regions are investigated for stochasticity and nonlinearity at several characteristic timescales.

Nonlinear models have been used extensively in the areas of economics and finance. Recent literature on the topic has shown that a large number of series exhibit nonlinear dynamics as opposed to the alternative--linear dynamics. Incorporating these concepts involves deriving and estimating nonlinear time series models, and these have typically taken the form of Threshold Autoregression (TAR) models, Exponential Smooth Transition (ESTAR) models, and Markov Switching (MS) models, among several others. This edited volume provides a timely overview of nonlinear estimation techniques, offering new methods and insights into nonlinear time series analysis. It features cutting-edge research from leading academics in economics, finance, and business management, and will focus on such topics as Zero-Information-Limit-Conditions, using Markov Switching Models to analyze economics series, and how best to distinguish between competing nonlinear models. Principles and techniques in this book will appeal to econometricians, finance professors teaching quantitative finance, researchers, and graduate students interested in learning how to apply advances in nonlinear time series modeling to solve complex problems in economics and finance.

Methods of nonlinear time series analysis are discussed from a dynamical systems perspective on the one hand, and from a statistical perspective on the other. After giving an informal overview of the theory of dynamical systems relevant to the analysis of deterministic time series, time series generated by nonlinear stochastic systems and spatio-temporal dynamical systems are considered. Several statistical methods for the analysis of nonlinear time series are presented and illustrated with applications to physical and physiological time series.

Lars Ahlfors's Lectures on Quasiconformal Mappings, based on a course he gave at Harvard University in the spring term of 1964, was first published in 1966 and was soon recognized as the classic it was shortly destined to become. These lectures develop the theory of quasiconformal mappings from scratch, give a self-contained treatment of the Beltrami equation, and cover the basic properties of Teichmuller spaces, including the Bers embedding and the Teichmuller curve. It isremarkable how Ahlfors goes straight to the heart of the matter, presenting major results with a minimum set of prerequisites. Many graduate students and other mathematicians have learned the foundations of the theories of quasiconformal mappings and Teichmuller spaces from these lecture notes. This editionincludes three new chapters. The first, written by Earle and Kra, describes further developments in the theory of Teichmuller spaces and provides many references to the vast literature on Teichmuller spaces and quasiconformal mappings. The second, by Shishikura, describes how quasiconformal mappings have revitalized the subject of complex dynamics. The third, by Hubbard, illustrates the role of these mappings in Thurston's theory of hyperbolic structures on 3-manifolds. Together, these threenew chapters exhibit the continuing vitality and importance of the theory of quasiconformal mappings. This book is a collection of research and expository papers reflecting the interfacing of two fields: nonlinear dynamics (in the physiological and biological sciences) and statistics. It presents theproceedings of a four-day workshop entitled ``Nonlinear Dynamics and Time Series: Building a Bridge Between the Natural and Statistical Sciences'' held at the Centre de Recherches Mathematiques (CRM) in Montreal in July 1995. The goal of the workshop was to provide an exchange forum and to create a link between two diverse groups with a common interest in the analysis of nonlinear time series data. The editors and peer reviewers of this work have attempted to minimize the problems ofmaintaining communication between the different scientific fields. The result is a collection of interrelated papers that highlight current areas of research in statistics that might have particular applicability to nonlinear dynamics and new methodology and open data analysis problems in nonlinear dynamicsthat might find their way into the toolkits and research interests of statisticians. Features: A survey of state-of-the-art developments in nonlinear dynamics time series analysis with open statistical problems and areas for further research. Contributions by statisticians to understanding and improving modern techniques commonly associated with nonlinear time series analysis, such as surrogate data methods and estimation of local Lyapunov exponents. Starting point for both scientists andstatisticians who want to explore the field. Expositions that are readable to scientists outside the featured fields of specialization. Information for our distributors: Titles in this series are copublished with the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences (Toronto, Ontario,Canada).