Critical information derived from seemingly unrelated elements of information is known as:

The term that refers to critical information derived from seemingly unrelated elements of information is "indicators." In various fields, including aviation, indicators serve as key pieces of information that provide insight or help in decision-making. They often come from diverse sources and when analyzed, can reveal patterns or important conclusions regarding operational safety, equipment performance, and other vital areas.

For example, if several unrelated data sources indicate a drop in aircraft performance—such as fuel efficiency readings, maintenance logs, and weather conditions—those disparate pieces of data collectively function as indicators that might suggest a larger underlying issue that needs attention.

In contrast, the other terms like signals, data points, and trends have distinct definitions and are used in different contexts. Signals generally pertain to information that is intentionally transmitted for communication, data points refer to specific pieces of quantitative or qualitative information, and trends represent a general direction in which something is developing or changing. These definitions clarify why indicators is the more accurate choice in this situation.