Monte Carlo fixed-lag smoothing in state-space models

Abstract. This paper presents an algorithm for Monte Carlo fixed-lag smoothing in state-space models defined by a diffusion process observed through noisy discrete-time measurements. Based on a particle approximation of the filtering and smoothing distributions, the method relies on a simulation technique of conditioned diffusions. The proposed sequential smoother can be applied to general nonlinear and multidimensional models, like the ones used in environmental applications. The smoothing of a turbulent flow in a high-dimensional context is given as a practical example.