Skip to main content
Log in

A linear functional relationship model for circular data with an application to the assessment of ocean wave measurements

  • Published:
Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article suggests a linear functional relationship model for comparing two sets of circular data subject to unobservable errors. Unlike the corresponding and relatively well-studied model for linear data, maximum likelihood estimation for this model is very complicated and no explicit solutions are possible. Using a numerical approximation, we are able to solve the likelihood equations approximately, and to obtain good approximations to the likelihood estimates of the parameters. The quality of our estimates and the feasibility of the estimation method are illustrated via simulation. By establishing a parallel with the model for linear data, we are able to explain the various problems occurring in the process of estimation and to substantiate our numerical results. The interest in the model arose in connection with the study of ocean wave data; an application to such data is also given.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, T. W. (1984), “Estimating Linear Statistical Relationships,” The Annals of Statistics, 18, 1–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booij, N., Ris, R. C., and Holthuijsen, L. H. (1999), “A Third-Generation Wave Model for Coastal Regions 1. Model Description and Validation,” Geophysical Research, 104 (C4), 7649–7666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caires, S. (2000), “Comparative Study of HF Radar Measurements and Wave Model Hindcasts of Waves in Shallow Waters,” unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Sheffield, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, D. R., and Hinkley, D. V. (1974), Theoretical Statistics, New York: Chapman and Hall.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, N. I. (1993), Statistical Analysis of Circular Data, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, M. G., and Stuart, A. (1973), The Advanced Theory of Statistics, (Vol. 2, 3rd ed.), London: Griffin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mardia, K. V. (1972), Statistics of Directional Data, London and New York: Academic Press.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Patefield, W. M. (1977), “On the Information Matrix in the Linear Functional Relationship Problem,” Applied Statistics, 26, 69.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Prandle, D., and Wyatt, L. R. (1999), Editorial: Introduction to this Special Issue, Coastal Engineering, 37, 193–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt, L. R. (1997), “The Ocean Wave Directional Spectrum,” Oceanography, 10, 85–89.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Caires.

Additional information

This research was carried out while the first author was a Ph. D. student in the University of Sheffield.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caires, S., Wyatt, L.R. A linear functional relationship model for circular data with an application to the assessment of ocean wave measurements. JABES 8, 153–169 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1198/1085711031571

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1198/1085711031571

Key Words

Navigation