Local Lyapunov exponents: Zero plays no role in Forecasting chaotic systems

We propose a novel methodology for forecasting chaotic systems which uses information on local Lyapunov exponents (LLEs) to improve upon existing predictors by correcting for their inevitable bias. Using simulated data on the nearest-neighbor predictor, we show that accuracy gains can be substantial and that the candidate selection problem identified in Guégan and Leroux (2009) can be solved irrespective of the value of LLEs. An important corollary follows: the focal value of zero, which traditionally distinguishes order from chaos, plays no role whatsoever when forecasting deterministic systems.