Note: before using this routine, please read the Users' Note for your implementation to check the interpretation of bold italicised terms and other implementation-dependent details.
REAL (KIND=nag_wp)
X(NB), WT(*), RMEAN(max(0,NB+min(0,PN-M+1))), RSD(LRSD), RCOMM(LRCOMM)
3 Description
Given a sample of observations, denoted by and a set of weights, , G01WAF calculates the mean and, optionally, the standard deviation, in a rolling window of length .
The mean is defined as
(1)
and the standard deviation as
(2)
with
.
Four different types of weighting are possible:
(i)
No weights ()
When no weights are required both the mean and standard deviations can be calculated in an iterative manner, with
where the initial values and are obtained using the one pass algorithm of West (1979).
(ii)
Each observation has its own weight
In this case, rather than supplying a vector of weights a vector of weights is supplied instead, and in (1) and (2).
If the standard deviations are not required then the mean is calculated using the iterative formula:
where
and
.
If both the mean and standard deviation are required then the one pass algorithm of West is applied multiple times.
(iii)
Each position in the window has its own weight
This is the case as described in (1) and (2), where the weight given to each observation differs depending on which summary is being produced. When these types of weights are specified both the mean and standard deviation are calculated by applying the one pass algorithm of West multiple times.
(iv)
Each position in the window has a weight equal to its position number ()
If the standard deviations are not required then the mean is calculated using the iterative formula:
where
and
.
If both the mean and standard deviation are required then the one pass algorithm of West is applied multiple times.
For large datasets, or where all the data is not available at the same time, (and if each observation has its own weight, ) can be split into arbitrary sized blocks and G01WAF called multiple times.
4 References
West D H D (1979) Updating mean and variance estimates: An improved method Comm. ACM22 532–555
5 Parameters
1: M – INTEGERInput
On entry: , the length of the rolling window.
If , M must be unchanged since the last call to G01WAF.
Constraint:
.
2: NB – INTEGERInput
On entry: , the number of observations in the current block of data. The size of the block of data supplied in X (and when , WT) can vary; therefore NB can change between calls to G01WAF.
On entry: the current block of observations, corresponding to
, for , where is the number of observations processed so far and is the size of the current block of data.
4: IWT – INTEGERInput
On entry: the type of weighting to use.
No weights are used.
Each observation has its own weight.
Each position in the window has its own weight.
Each position in the window has a weight equal to its position number.
If , IWT must be unchanged since the last call to G01WAF.
Constraint:
, , or .
5: WT() – REAL (KIND=nag_wp) arrayInput
Note: the dimension of the array WT
must be at least
if and at least if .
On entry: , the number of observations processed so far. On the first call to G01WAF, or when starting to summarise a new dataset, PN must be set to .
If , it must be the same value as returned by the last call to G01WAF.
On exit: , the updated number of observations processed so far.
Constraint:
.
7: RMEAN() – REAL (KIND=nag_wp) arrayOutput
On exit: , the (weighted) moving averages, for . Where is the summary to the window that ends on . Therefore, if, on entry, , is the summary corresponding to the window that ends on and if, on entry, , is the summary corresponding to the window that ends on (or, equivalently, starts on ).
On entry: the dimension of the array RSD as declared in the (sub)program from which G01WAF is called. If the standard deviations are not required then LRSD should be set to zero.
Constraint:
or .
10: RCOMM(LRCOMM) – REAL (KIND=nag_wp) arrayCommunication Array
On entry: communication array, used to store information between calls to G01WAF. If , RCOMM is not referenced and all the data must be supplied in one go.
11: LRCOMM – INTEGERInput
On entry: the dimension of the array RCOMM as declared in the (sub)program from which G01WAF is called.
Constraint:
or .
12: IFAIL – INTEGERInput/Output
On entry: IFAIL must be set to , . If you are unfamiliar with this parameter you should refer to Section 3.3 in the Essential Introduction for details.
For environments where it might be inappropriate to halt program execution when an error is detected, the value is recommended. If the output of error messages is undesirable, then the value is recommended. Otherwise, if you are not familiar with this parameter, the recommended value is . When the value is used it is essential to test the value of IFAIL on exit.
On exit: unless the routine detects an error or a warning has been flagged (see Section 6).
6 Error Indicators and Warnings
If on entry or , explanatory error messages are output on the current error message unit (as defined by X04AAF).
Errors or warnings detected by the routine:
On entry, .
Constraint: .
On entry, .
On entry at previous call, .
Constraint: if , M must be unchanged since previous call.
On entry, .
Constraint: .
On entry, , .
Constraint: if , .
On entry, .
Constraint: , , or .
On entry, .
On entry at previous call, .
Constraint: if , IWT must be unchanged since previous call.
On entry, .
Constraint: .
On entry, .
Constraint: if , .
On entry, at least one window had all zero weights.
On entry, unable to calculate at least one standard deviation due to the weights supplied.
On entry, sum of weights supplied in WT is .
Constraint: if , the sum of the weights .
On entry, .
Constraint: .
On entry, .
On exit from previous call, .
Constraint: if , PN must be unchanged since previous call.
On entry, .
Constraint: .
On entry, .
Constraint: .
Dynamic memory allocation failed.
7 Accuracy
Not applicable.
8 Further Comments
The more data that is supplied to G01WAF in one call, i.e., the larger NB is, the more efficient the routine will be. In addition, where possible, the input parameters should be chosen so that G01WAF can use the iterative formula as described in Section 3.
9 Example
This example calculates Spencer's -point moving average for the change in rate of the Earth's rotation between and . The data is supplied in three chunks, the first consisting of five observations, the second observations and the last observations.
This example plot shows the smoothing effect of using different length rolling windows on the mean and standard deviation. Two different window lengths, and , are used to produce the unweighted rolling mean and standard deviations for the change in rate of the Earth's rotation between and .