What is NetCDF?
NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) is a binary format for array-oriented scientific data.
Metview uses NetCDF as an internal format for representing data units which can't be conveniently represented by GRIB, BUFR or geopoints, for example, to handle data arrays representing cross-sections and cross-sectional averages, vertical profiles, Hovmøller matrices, etc. Such NetCDF data files can then be imported by other NetCDF conversant software if users so wish.
The official homepage of NetCDF is hosted by UCAR: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/.
The NetCDF icon
NetCDF files are represented by this icon in the user interface:
Examining NetCDF contents
The contents of a NetCDF file can be inspected with the NetCdf Examiner, which can be started up from the user interface (right-click examine on the icon).
Visualisation
NetCDF cannot be directly visualised in Metview but it is based on the NetCDF Visualiser icon. With the NetCDF Visualiser we can specify the plot type, the NetCDF variable and the NetCDF dimension slicing to generate the actual plot. It supports visualisation on maps and xy-charts both scalar and vector data.
NetCDF as intermediate format
Metview uses NetCDF as an internal format to store the data extracted/computed for the so-called analysis views (various sections and profiles). The data preparation icons of these views all store their results in NetCDF, these include: Cross Section Data, Average Data, Hovmoeller Data, Thermo Data and Vertical Profile Data.
Script language support
Metview provides support for NetCDF from its Macro and Python interfaces. This includes:
- accessing dimensions, variables and attributes
- changing variables values
The list of available functions for NetCDF can be found on the NetCDF Functions page.