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Numerical instability of calculating inverse of spatial covariance matrices

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  • Lim, Chae Young
  • Chen, Chien-Hung
  • Wu, Wei-Ying

Abstract

Computing an inverse of a covariance matrix is a common computational component in Statistics. For example, Gaussian likelihood function includes the inverse of a covariance matrix. For the computation of the inverse of a spatial covariance matrix, numerically unstable results can arise when the observation locations are getting denser. In this paper, we investigate when computational instability in calculating the inverse of a spatial covariance matrix makes maximum likelihood estimator unreasonable for a Matérn covariance model. Also, some possible approaches to relax such computational instability are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lim, Chae Young & Chen, Chien-Hung & Wu, Wei-Ying, 2017. "Numerical instability of calculating inverse of spatial covariance matrices," Statistics & Probability Letters, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 182-188.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:stapro:v:129:y:2017:i:c:p:182-188
    DOI: 10.1016/j.spl.2017.05.019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kaufman, Cari G. & Schervish, Mark J. & Nychka, Douglas W., 2008. "Covariance Tapering for Likelihood-Based Estimation in Large Spatial Data Sets," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 103(484), pages 1545-1555.
    2. Zhang, Hao, 2004. "Inconsistent Estimation and Asymptotically Equal Interpolations in Model-Based Geostatistics," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 99, pages 250-261, January.
    3. Andrianakis, Ioannis & Challenor, Peter G., 2012. "The effect of the nugget on Gaussian process emulators of computer models," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 56(12), pages 4215-4228.
    4. C. G. Kaufman & B. A. Shaby, 2013. "The role of the range parameter for estimation and prediction in geostatistics," Biometrika, Biometrika Trust, vol. 100(2), pages 473-484.
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    1. Girard, Didier A., 2020. "Asymptotic near-efficiency of the “Gibbs-energy (GE) and empirical-variance” estimating functions for fitting Matérn models - II: Accounting for measurement errors via “conditional GE mean”," Statistics & Probability Letters, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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