ON LIMITATIONS TO PREDICTION

Abstract

An expression is obtained for the limit to certainty of perfect prediction, in terms of the amount of verification data and the detail of the predictand. Related expressions are developed for the number of effective predictors that may be combined in a given prediction method, and for the fineness of predictand detail that can be forecast. Applications to evaluation of practical forecast problems are discussed by use of examples. Similar treatments are suggested for specification problems. Because of the generality of their derivations, it is believed that these expressions would be useful in other fields, as well as in meteorology.