Given the shapes of the trajectories for each of the three axes, a plausible interpretation is that the trajectory along axis 1 (blue lines) represents a linear progression from an initial to final stable condition. The trajectory along axis 2 (green lines) represents an excursion from linearity. The trajectory along axis 3 (red lines) represents the asymmetry of ascending and descending limbs of the excursion. Note that final values along axis 2 are very similar to the initial values, while this is not the case for the values along axis 3. This indicates that the departure from linearity has both transient (axis 2) and lasting (axis 3) effects on the ultimate outcome of the development. This accords well with our initial interpretive framework.
