What's the antonym of "occurrence"?

Question

I'm looking for the antonym of occurrence. I want to use it in this sentence:

Based on the occurrence/[antonym] of signals, decisions will be made.

The context is scientific. I would like to have just one word for this particular sentence.

Answer 1

Typical scientific/technical jargon in this kind of sentence is this:

occurrence/nonoccurrence

and

presence/absence

Answer 2

I'd suggest absence might be the word you are looking for, in the sense of the fact of being without something.

Answer 3

Lack might work too. Based on the occurrence or lack of signals, decisions will be made.