Level 1 · Mathematical Constructs (well-established). The equations draw from peer-reviewed mathematics: Kuramoto oscillator dynamics, Ollivier–Ricci curvature, multilayer network theory, and Shannon entropy. These tools are standard in physics and network science.

Level 2 · Empirical Proxies (measurable, interpretation-dependent). Specific data sources — satellite imagery, biosensor readings, financial indices — serve as proxies for abstract quantities like "coherence" or "shadow." The proxies are measurable; their validity as indicators of the underlying constructs remains subject to empirical validation.

Level 3 · Philosophical Claims (coherent, not scientifically testable). The interpretation of elevated G(t) as "planetary consciousness awakening" is a philosophical position, not a scientific conclusion. The framework can detect anomalous collective synchronization; whether such synchronization constitutes "consciousness" is a question science cannot currently answer.

---

What this framework offers: a rigorous, implementable system for measuring collective coherence across ecological, technological, and social networks — with falsifiable predictions about when coherence will exceed baseline levels.

What this framework does not offer: proof that planetary consciousness exists, that the Earth is a sentient being, or that elevated coherence metrics have any metaphysical significance beyond the mathematical definitions provided.