Types of Seasonal Plots
- Time Series Plot: This is a basic plot that displays the data over time. While not inherently a seasonal plot, it forms the foundation for understanding seasonal patterns and trends.
- Seasonal Subseries Plot: This plot breaks down the time series data into subseries based on each season (e.g., months or quarters). It allows for a more detailed examination of seasonal variations within the data.
- Seasonal Decomposition Plot: Seasonal decomposition separates the time series into its constituent components: trend, seasonal, and residual. The seasonal plot visualizes the seasonal component, making it easier to identify seasonal patterns independent of other trends.
Seasonal Plots in R
A seasonal plot is a graphical representation used to visualize and analyze seasonal patterns in time series data. It helps identify recurring patterns, such as monthly or quarterly fluctuations, within a dataset.
For example, let’s consider a retail store that sells winter clothing. The store collects sales data for sweaters over the past few years. By creating a seasonal plot of sweater sales data, the store can observe if there is a consistent increase in sales during the colder months (fall and winter) compared to the warmer months (spring and summer). This visualization can help the store better understand the seasonal demand for sweaters and plan their inventory accordingly.