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Abstract

Spatially embedded networks have attracted increasing attention in the past decade. In this context, network characteristics have been introduced which explicitly take spatial information into account. Among others, edge directionality properties have recently gained particular interest. In this work, we investigate the applicability of mean edge direction, anisotropy, and local mean angle as geometric characteristics in complex spherical networks. By studying these measures, both analytically and numerically, we demonstrate the existence of a systematic bias in spatial networks where individual nodes represent different shares on a spherical surface, and we describe a strategy for correcting for this effect. Moreover, we illustrate the application of the mentioned edge directionality properties to different examples of real-world spatial networks in spherical geometry (with or without the geometric correction depending on each specific case), including functional climate networks, transportation, and trade networks. In climate networks, our approach highlights relevant patterns, such as large-scale circulation cells, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and the Atlantic Niño. In an air transportation network, we are able to characterize distinct air transportation zones, while we confirm the important role of the European Union for the global economy by identifying convergent edge directionality patterns in the world trade network.