In extreme value statistics for stationary sequences, blocks estimators are usually constructed by using disjoint blocks because exceedances over high thresholds of different blocks can be assumed asymptotically independent. In this paper we focus on the estimation of the extremal index which measures the degree of clustering of extremes. We consider disjoint and sliding blocks estimators and compare their asymptotic properties. In particular we show that the sliding blocks estimator is more efficient than the disjoint version and has a smaller asymptotic bias. Moreover we propose a method to reduce its bias when considering sufficiently large block sizes.
Cluster indices describe extremal behaviour of stationary time series. We consider their sliding blocks estimators. Using a modern theory of multivariate, regularly varying time series, we obtain central limit theorems under conditions that can be easily verified for a large class of models. In particular, we show that in the Peak over Threshold framework, sliding and disjoint blocks estimators have the same limiting variance.
Drees and Rootzén (2010) have established limit theorems for a general class of empirical processes of statistics that are useful for the extreme value analysis of time series, but do not apply to statistics of sliding blocks, including so-called runs estimators. We generalize these results to empirical processes which cover both the class considered by Drees and Rootzén (2010) and processes of sliding blocks statistics. Using this approach, one can analyze different types of statistics in a unified framework. We show that statistics based on sliding blocks are asymptotically normal with an as…
The extremes of a stationary time series typically occur in clusters. A primary measure for this phenomenon is the extremal index, representing the reciprocal of the expected cluster size. Both a disjoint and a sliding blocks estimator for the extremal index are analyzed in detail. In contrast to many competitors, the estimators only depend on the choice of one parameter sequence. We derive an asymptotic expansion, prove asymptotic normality and show consistency of an estimator for the asymptotic variance. Explicit calculations in certain models and a finite-sample Monte Carlo simulation study…
The extremal index $θ$, a number in the interval $[0,1]$, is known to be a measure of primal importance for analyzing the extremes of a stationary time series. New rank-based estimators for $θ$ are proposed which rely on the construction of approximate samples from the exponential distribution with parameter $θ$ that is then to be fitted via the method of moments. The new estimators are analyzed both theoretically as well as empirically through a large-scale simulation study. In specific scenarios, in particular for time series models with $θ\approx 1$, they are found to be superior to recent …
In several different fields, there is interest in analyzing the upper or lower tail quantile of the underlying distribution rather than mean or center quantile. However, the investigation of the tail quantile is difficult because of data sparsity. In this paper, we attempt to develop nonparametric quantile regression for the extremal quantile level. In extremal quantile regression, there are two types of technical conditions of the order of convergence of the quantile level: intermediate order or extreme order. For the intermediate order quantile, the ordinary nonparametric estimator is used. …
We investigate the joint asymptotic behavior of so-called blocks estimator of the extremal index, that determines the mean length of clusters of extremes, based on the exceedances over different thresholds. Due to the large bias of these estimators, the resulting estimates are usually very sensitive to the choice of the threshold and thus difficult to interpret. We propose and examine a bias correction that asymptotically removes the leading bias term while the rate of convergence of the random error is preserved.
We propose a new threshold selection method for the nonparametric estimation of the extremal index of stochastic processes. The so-called discrepancy method was proposed as a data-driven smoothing tool for estimation of a probability density function. Now it is modified to select a threshold parameter of an extremal index estimator. To this end, a specific normalization of the discrepancy statistic based on the Cramér-von Mises-Smirnov statistic $ω^2$ is calculated by the $k$ largest order statistics instead of an entire sample. Its asymptotic distribution as $k\to\infty$ is proved to be the s…
Modeling univariate block maxima by the generalized extreme value distribution constitutes one of the most widely applied approaches in extreme value statistics. It has recently been found that, for an underlying stationary time series, respective estimators may be improved by calculating block maxima in an overlapping way. A proof of concept is provided that the latter finding also holds in situations that involve certain piecewise stationarities. A weak convergence result for an empirical process of central interest is provided, and, as a case-in-point, further details are worked out explici…
A measure of primal importance for capturing the serial dependence of a stationary time series at extreme levels is provided by the limiting cluster size distribution. New estimators based on a blocks declustering scheme are proposed and analyzed both theoretically and by means of a large-scale simulation study. A sliding blocks version of the estimators is shown to outperform a disjoint blocks version. In contrast to some competitors from the literature, the estimators only depend on one unknown parameter to be chosen by the statistician.
The purpose of this paper is to pursue our study of rho-estimators built from i.i.d. observations that we defined in Baraud et al. (2014). For a ρ-estimator based on some model S (which means that the estimator belongs to S) and a true distribution of the observations that also belongs to S, the risk (with squared Hellinger loss) is bounded by a quantity which can be viewed as a dimension function of the model and is often related to the "metric dimension" of this model, as defined in Birgé (2006). This is a minimax point of view and it is well-known that it is pessimistic. Typically, the boun…
The extremal index parameter theta characterizes the degree of local dependence in the extremes of a stationary time series and has important applications in a number of areas, such as hydrology, telecommunications, finance and environmental studies. In this study, a novel estimator for theta based on the asymptotic scaling of block-maxima and resampling is introduced. It is shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal for a large class of m-dependent time series. Further, a procedure for the automatic selection of its tuning parameter is developed and different types of confidence interva…
Let denote $S_n(p) = k_n^{-1} \sum_{i=1}^{k_n} \left( \log (X_{n+1-i,n} / X_{n-k_n, n}) \right)^p$, where $p > 0$, $k_n \leq n$ is a sequence of integers such that $k_n \to \infty$ and $k_n / n \to 0$, and $X_{1,n} \leq \ldots \leq X_{n,n}$ is the order statistics of iid random variables with regularly varying upper tail. The estimator $\widehat γ(n) = (S_n(p)/Γ(p+1))^{1/p}$ is an extension of the Hill estimator. We investigate the asymptotic properties of $S_n(p)$ and $\widehat γ(n)$ both for fixed $p > 0$ and for $p = p_n \to \infty$. We prove strong consistency and asymptotic normality unde…
The block maxima method in extreme value theory consists of fitting an extreme value distribution to a sample of block maxima extracted from a time series. Traditionally, the maxima are taken over disjoint blocks of observations. Alternatively, the blocks can be chosen to slide through the observation period, yielding a larger number of overlapping blocks. Inference based on sliding blocks is found to be more efficient than inference based on disjoint blocks. The asymptotic variance of the maximum likelihood estimator of the Fréchet shape parameter is reduced by more than 18%. Interestingly, t…
It is well known that the distribution of extreme values of strictly stationary sequences differ from those of independent and identically distributed sequences in that extremal clustering may occur. Here we consider non-stationary but identically distributed sequences of random variables subject to suitable long-range dependence restrictions. We find that the limiting distribution of appropriately normalized sample maxima depends on a parameter that measures the average extremal clustering of the sequence. Based on this new representation we derive the asymptotic distribution for the time bet…
The extremal index is an important parameter in the characterization of extreme values of a stationary sequence. Our new estimation approach for this parameter is based on the extremal behavior under the local dependence condition D$^{(k)}$($u_n$). We compare a process satisfying one of this hierarchy of increasingly weaker local mixing conditions with a process of cycles satisfying the D$^{(2)}$($u_n$) condition. We also analyze local dependence within moving maxima processes and derive a necessary and sufficient condition for D$^{(k)}$($u_n$). In order to evaluate the performance of the prop…
Nonparametric regression quantiles obtained by inverting a kernel estimator of the conditional distribution of the response are long established in statistics. Attention has been, however, restricted to ordinary quantiles staying away from the tails of the conditional distribution. The purpose of this paper is to extend their asymptotic theory far enough into the tails. We focus on extremal quantile regression estimators of a response variable given a vector of covariates in the general setting, whether the conditional extreme-value index is positive, negative, or zero. Specifically, we elucid…
The statistical modelling of spatial extremes has recently made major advances. Much of its focus so far has been on the modelling of the magnitudes of extreme events but little attention has been paid on the timing of extremes. To address this gap, this paper introduces the notion of extremal concurrence. Suppose that one measures precipitation at several synoptic stations over multiple days. We say that extremes are concurrent if the maximum precipitation over time at each station is achieved simultaneously, e.g., on a single day. Under general conditions, we show that the finite sample conc…
We define a new multivariate time series model by generalizing the ARMAX process in a multivariate way. We give conditions on stationarity and analyze local dependence and domains of attraction. As a consequence of the obtained result, we derive a new method of construction of multivariate extreme value copulas. We characterize the extremal dependence by computing the multivariate extremal index and bivariate upper tail dependence coefficients. An estimation procedure for the multivariate extremal index shall be presented. We also address the marginal estimation and propose a new estimator for…
The pseudo-Lindley distribution which was introduced in Zeghdoudi and Nedjar (2016) is studied with regards to its upper tail. In that regard, and when the underlying distribution function follows the Pseudo-Lindley law, we investigate the behavior of its values, the asymptotic normality of the Hill estimator and the double-indexed generalized Hill statistic process (Ngom and Lo), the asymptotic normality of the records values and the moment problem.
Cluster indices describe extremal behaviour of stationary time series. We consider runs estimators of cluster indices. Using a modern theory of multivariate, regularly varying time series, we obtain central limit theorems under conditions that can be easily verified for a large class of models. In particular, we show that blocks and runs estimators have the same limiting variance.
In this work, we focus on some conditional extreme risk measures estimation for elliptical random vectors. In a previous paper, we proposed a methodology to approximate extreme quantiles, based on two extremal parameters. We thus propose some estimators for these parameters, and study their asymptotic properties in the case of heavy-tailed distributions. Thereafter, from these parameters, we construct extreme conditional quantiles estimators, and give their consistency properties. Using recent results on the asymptotic relationship between quantiles and other risk measures, we deduce estimator…
Estimation of extreme value copulas is often required in situations where available data are sparse. Parametric methods may then be the preferred approach. A possible way of defining parametric families that are simple and, at the same time, cover a large variety of multivariate extremal dependence structures is to build models based on spectral measures. This approach is considered here. Parametric families of spectral measures are defined as convex hulls of suitable basis elements, and parameters are estimated by projecting an initial nonparametric estimator on these finite-dimensional space…
Einmahl, de Haan and Zhou (2016, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series B, 78(1), 31-51) recently introduced a stochastic model that allows for heteroscedasticity of extremes. The model is extended to the situation where the observations are serially dependent, which is crucial for many practical applications. We prove a local limit theorem for a kernel estimator for the scedasis function, and a functional limit theorem for an estimator for the integrated scedasis function. We further prove consistency of a bootstrap scheme that allows to test for the null hypothesis that the extreme…
We introduce a new generalization of the Pseudo-Lindley distribution by applying alpha power transformation. The obtained distribution is referred as the Pseudo-Lindley alpha power transformed distribution (\textit{PL-APT}). Some tractable mathematical properties of the \textit{PL-APT} distribution as reliability, hazard rate, order statistics and entropies are provided. The maximum likelihood method is used to obtain the parameters' estimation of the \textit{PL-APT} distribution. The asymptotic properties of the proposed distribution are discussed. Also, a simulation study is performed to com…
Quantile regression is an important tool for estimation of conditional quantiles of a response Y given a vector of covariates X. It can be used to measure the effect of covariates not only in the center of a distribution, but also in the upper and lower tails. This paper develops a theory of quantile regression in the tails. Specifically, it obtains the large sample properties of extremal (extreme order and intermediate order) quantile regression estimators for the linear quantile regression model with the tails restricted to the domain of minimum attraction and closed under tail equivalence a…
The estimation of the extremal dependence structure is spoiled by the impact of the bias, which increases with the number of observations used for the estimation. Already known in the univariate setting, the bias correction procedure is studied in this paper under the multivariate framework. New families of estimators of the stable tail dependence function are obtained. They are asymptotically unbiased versions of the empirical estimator introduced by Huang [Statistics of bivariate extremes (1992) Erasmus Univ.]. Since the new estimators have a regular behavior with respect to the number of ob…
For stationary sequences, under general local and asymptotic dependence restrictions, any limiting point process for time normalized upcrossings of high levels is a compound Poisson process, i.e., there is a clustering of high upcrossings, where the underlying Poisson points represent cluster positions, and the multiplicities correspond to cluster sizes. For such classes of stationary sequences there exists the upcrossings index $η,$ $0\leq η\leq 1,$ which is directly related to the extremal index $θ,$ $0\leq θ\leq 1,$ for suitable high levels. In this paper we consider the problem of estimati…
As part of global climate change an accelerated hydrologic cycle (including an increase in heavy precipitation) is anticipated. So, it is of great importance to be able to quantify high-impact hydrologic relationships, for example, the impact that an extreme precipitation (or temperature) in a location has on a surrounding region. Building on the Multivariate Extreme Value Theory we propose a contagion index and a stability index. The contagion index makes it possible to quantify the effect that an exceedance above a high threshold can have on a region. The stability index reflects the expecte…
The task of estimation of the tails of probability distributions having small samples seems to be still opened and almost unsolvable. The paper tries to make a step in filling this gap. In 2017 Jordanova et al. introduce six new characteristics of the heaviness of the tails of theoretical distributions. They rely on the probability to observe {\color{blue}mild or} extreme outliers. The main their advantage is that they always exist. This work presents some new properties of these characteristics. Using them six distribution sensitive estimators of the extremal index are defined. A brief simula…
