Nonparametric Spherical Regression Using Diffeomorphic Mappings

Spherical regression explores relationships between variables on spherical domains. We develop a nonparametric model that uses a diffeomorphic map from a sphere to itself. The restriction of this mapping to diffeomorphisms is natural in several settings. The model is estimated in a penalized maximum-likelihood framework using gradient-based optimization. Towards that goal, we specify a first-order roughness penalty using the Jacobian of diffeomorphisms. We compare the prediction performance of the proposed model with state-of-the-art methods using simulated and real data involving cloud deformations, wind directions, and vector-cardiograms. This model is found to outperform others in capturing relationships between spherical variables.