Geometric detection of coupling directions by means of inter-system recurrence networks

TL;DR

This paper presents a geometric method using inter-system recurrence networks to determine the direction of coupling between two dynamical systems, successfully applied to both simulated oscillators and real palaeoclimate data.

Contribution

It introduces a novel geometric approach based on recurrence networks for identifying coupling directions in dynamical systems, including real-world climate data.

Findings

Successfully discriminates coupling directions in weakly coupled oscillators

Reveals influence of Indian summer monsoon on Eastern China climate

Method can be extended to multiple coupled systems

Abstract

We introduce a geometric method for identifying the coupling direction between two dynamical systems based on a bivariate extension of recurrence network analysis. Global characteristics of the resulting inter-system recurrence networks provide a correct discrimination for weakly coupled R\"ossler oscillators not yet displaying generalised synchronisation. Investigating two real-world palaeoclimate time series representing the variability of the Asian monsoon over the last 10,000 years, we observe indications for a considerable influence of the Indian summer monsoon on climate in Eastern China rather than vice versa. The proposed approach can be directly extended to studying $K>2$ coupled subsystems.