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Challenges of Explainability in Continual Learning for Time Series Forecasting

Summary

This research investigates explainability as a key tool for understanding continual learning in adaptive time series forecasting. Using experience replay strategies, it studies neural architectures including PatchMixer, PatchTST, and DLinear, enhanced with attention-based sampling. Explainability methods such as attention rollout and Grad-CAM are employed to analyze predictive behavior and sampling strategies. Experiments on real-world piezometric time series reveal challenges and opportunities for leveraging explainability in non-stationary forecasting scenarios.

SourcearXiv Machine LearningAuthor: Quentin Besnard (RFAI), Emmanuel Doumard (BDTLN), Nicolas Labroche (LIFAT, BDTLN), Nicolas Ragot (RFAI), Nicolas Ringuet (BDTLN)
Challenges of Explainability in Continual Learning for Time Series Forecasting
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[Submitted on 1 Jul 2026]

Title:Challenges of Explainability in Continual Learning for Time Series Forecasting

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Abstract:Deep learning models have shown strong potential for time series forecasting, yet their deployment in real-world environmental monitoring remains challenging due to non-stationary dynamics and limited explainability. In this work, we investigate explainability as a central tool for understanding continual learning in adaptive time series forecasting, with Experience Replay strategies. We study neural forecasting architectures such as PatchMixer, PatchTST and DLinear, augmented with attention-based sampling mechanisms to support model adaptation over time. Explainability is leveraged through attention rollout and gradient-based attribution methods (Grad-CAM) to analyze both predictive behavior and sampling strategies within a continual learning framework. Experiments conducted on real-world piezometric time series exhibiting heterogeneous patterns and regime shifts show that analyzing model and sampling behaviors provides valuable insights into the dynamics of the continual learning framework. Beyond predictive performance, our results highlight the challenges and opportunities of using explainability to understand continual learning behaviors, revealing how attribution patterns evolve over time and how they can inform data selection and adaptation strategies in non-stationary forecasting scenarios.

Subjects:

Machine Learning (cs.LG); Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)

Cite as: arXiv:2607.19382 [cs.LG]

(or arXiv:2607.19382v1 [cs.LG] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2607.19382

arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

Journal reference: EDBT/ICDT 2026 Joint Conference, Mar 2026, Tampere, Finland

Submission history

From: Quentin Besnard [view email] [via CCSD proxy] [v1] Wed, 1 Jul 2026 08:35:26 UTC (5,352 KB)

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Key points and analysis

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Key points

  • Explains how explainability aids understanding of continual learning in time series forecasting.
  • Uses experience replay, attention rollout, and Grad-CAM methods.
  • Real-world groundwater data experiments show explainability can inform model adaptation and data selection.

Highlights and analysis are generated automatically and may contain errors. Check the original source.