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Bayesian model selection for the glacial-interglacial cycle

Carson, Jake; Crucifix, Michel; Preston, Simon; Wilkinson, Richard

Authors

Jake Carson

Michel Crucifix

SIMON PRESTON simon.preston@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Statistics and Applied Mathematics

Richard Wilkinson



Abstract

A prevailing viewpoint in paleoclimate science is that a single paleoclimate record contains insufficient information to discriminate between typical competing explanatory models. Here we show that by using SMC 2 (sequential Monte Carlo squared) combined with novel Brownian bridge type proposals for the state trajectories, it is possible to estimate Bayes factors to sufficient accuracy to be able to select between competing models, even with relatively short time series. The results show that Monte Carlo methodology and computer power have now advanced to the point where a full Bayesian analysis for a wide class of conceptual climate models is now possible. The results also highlight a problem with estimating the chronology of the climate record prior to further statistical analysis, a practice which is common in paleoclimate science. Using two datasets based on the same record but with different estimated chronologies, results in conflicting conclusions about the importance of the astronomical forcing on the glacial cycle, and about the internal dynamics generating the glacial cycle, even though the difference between the two estimated chronologies is consistent with dating uncertainty. This highlights a need for chronology estimation and other inferential questions to be addressed in a joint statistical
procedure.

Citation

Carson, J., Crucifix, M., Preston, S., & Wilkinson, R. (2017). Bayesian model selection for the glacial-interglacial cycle. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series C, 67(1), https://doi.org/10.1111/rssc.12222

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 30, 2017
Online Publication Date Mar 17, 2017
Publication Date Dec 21, 2017
Deposit Date Mar 14, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series C
Print ISSN 0035-9254
Electronic ISSN 0035-9254
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 67
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/rssc.12222
Keywords Astronomical forcing; Glacial cycles; Model comparison; Paleoclimate; Sequential Monte Carlo methods
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/901477
Publisher URL http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rssc.12222/full

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