Can I calculate the covariance matrix of a large set of data?

[Frank Einstein]

TL;DR Summary

I want to calculate the covariance matrix of a large set of data. However, I get an error telling me that said matrix would be too big and therefore It cannot be done.

Hello everyone. I want to calculate the covariance matrix of a stochastic process using Matlab as

cov(listOfUVValues)

being the dimensions of listOfUVValues 211302*50. I get the following error:

Requested 211302x211302 (332.7GB) array exceeds maximum array size preference. Creation of arrays greater than this limit may take a long time and cause MATLAB to become
unresponsive. See array size limit or preference panel for more information.

Error in cov (line 156)
c = (xc' * xc) ./ denom;

;

Is there a way to go arround this limitation or is it impossible to do?

Any answer is appreciated.

Best regards.

 

[jasonRF]

There is no getting around the fact that you are asking for a matrix that will need a ton of memory. What do you need the covariance matrix for?

If there is some other end goal then there may be a better approach that bypasses the need to compute the covariance matrix at all. I'm not sure how much information you would even get from a 211302x211302 matrix that has a rank of at most 50.

If you just need a few elements of the covariance matrix, then you can estimate those directly.

jason

 

[Orodruin]

Are you using the correct dimensions to represent each realisation? A 50x50 covariance matrix for 211k realisations sounds much more reasonable than vice versa.

 

[Frank Einstein]

Yes, I have 50 realizations of a stochastic process, 50 valriables and 200k observations of each. I am trying to calculate the covariance between the windspeed in the X and Y directions using data from the ECMWF. I gess I will have to limit the region or the resolution.

Thanks anyway for your comments

 

[FactChecker]

IMO, "50 realizations" is a misleading phrase. I interpret that phrase as 50 observations, each with a certain number of attributes (variables) recorded.
I think that you have your dimensions switched and, as @Orodruin suggested, your covariance matrix should be 50x50.

 

[Frank Einstein]

I am following this thread. I have 50 wind predictions, each measured at 200k places, thus, each wind prediction is a realization of a random variable. I don't know if that helps