CharAnalysis 1.1 contains the following new features and updates:

1 - NEW signal-to-noise index, based on formula presented in Kelly et al. (2011):

Kelly, R.K., P.E. Higuera, C.M. Barrett, and F.S. Hu. 2011. A signal-to-noise index to quantify the potential for peak detection in sediment-charcoal records. Quaternary Research, 75: 11-17.

NOTE: The new SNI ranges from 0 to infinity, with a well-based theoretical cut-off at three; SNI values > 3 suggest signal beyond what would be expected based on random variability. The maximum value displayed in output Figure 4 is 10, although SNI values may exceed this value. Also, panel (c) in the background sensitivity analysis (output Figure 10) is less meaningful now as a metric from which to select an optimal smoothing window. This results because the SNI is no longer bound at 1, and it can now dominate the simple equation GOF-p-value + SNI.

2 - UPDATED Smoothed fire return intervals (FRIs; Fig. 7 in output) now include confidence intervals, based on 1000 bootstrapped samples of FRIs, within a time span of +/- 0.5*peakFrequ (the parameter defining the smoothing window for peak frequency).

3 - NEW DEPENDENCY identified for Matlab users (Jan. 2011):

The feature associated with #2 above is written in code that requires Matlab Version 2009b or later. If you do not have access to this or a more recent version, contact Phil Higuera to discuss options around this dependency. Any updates will be posted here.