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10 Read Netcdf Python

The document discusses how to work with NetCDF files in Python using the netCDF4 module, which provides a simple interface to read and interrogate NetCDF data including dimensions, variables, attributes, and opening NetCDF files with the Dataset() constructor. The netCDF4 module can read any NetCDF format including the classic data model which is made up of dimensions, variables, and attributes that can be interrogated through dictionary calls on the dataset object.

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Eliton Figueiredo
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65 views9 pages

10 Read Netcdf Python

The document discusses how to work with NetCDF files in Python using the netCDF4 module, which provides a simple interface to read and interrogate NetCDF data including dimensions, variables, attributes, and opening NetCDF files with the Dataset() constructor. The netCDF4 module can read any NetCDF format including the classic data model which is made up of dimensions, variables, and attributes that can be interrogated through dictionary calls on the dataset object.

Uploaded by

Eliton Figueiredo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Reading NetCDF files with

Python
Thanks to all contributors:

Stephen Pascoe, Jeff Whittaker


So many options!
There are many options for working with NetCDF files
in Python. In this example we have chosen to highlight
the use of the netCDF4-python module.

The netCDF4-python module is useful because:


• It implements the basic “classic” model as well as
more advanced features.
• It provides a simple interface to the NetCDF
structure.
• It has been used as the underlying NetCDF I/O layer
for many more advanced packages.
Opening a netCDF file

To open a netCDF file from python, you simply call the


Dataset() constructor as follows:

>>> from netCDF4 import Dataset


>>> dataset = Dataset('data.nc')

>>> print dataset.file_format


NETCDF4_CLASSIC
Working with “classic” NetCDF
The netCDF4 module can read in any netCDF format.
This tutorial will focus exclusively on the NetCDF-
”classic” data model using: NETCDF4_CLASSIC

The "classic" data model is made up of dimensions,


variables and attributes (as discussed earlier).
Interrogating dimensions
You can interrogate dimensions using simple
dictionary calls:

>>> print dataset.dimensions.keys()


['time', 'latitude', 'bound', 'longitude']

>>> print dataset.dimensions['time']


<type 'netCDF4.Dimension'> (unlimited):
name = 'time', size = 1
Interrogating variables
You can interrogate variables using simple
dictionary calls:
>>> print dataset.variables.keys()
['tcc', 'time', 'latitude', 'longitude']

>>> print dataset.variables['tcc']


<type 'netCDF4.Variable'>
float32 tcc(time, latitude, longitude
missing_value: 9.999e+20
name: tcc
title: Total cloud cover ((0-1))
unlimited dimensions: time
current shape = (1, 181, 360)
filling off
Global attributes
Global attributes are available as attributes of the
python dataset instance:

# Get conventions attribute


>>> print dataset.Conventions
CF-1.5

# Or find all NetCDF global attributes


>>> for attr in dataset.ncattrs():
... print attr, '=', getattr(dataset, attr)
...
Conventions = CF-1.0
history = Written in a hurry on a Tuesday!
Variable attributes
Variable attributes are available as attributes of the
python variable instance:

# Get units attribute


>>> print myvar.units
m/s

# Or find all variable attributes


>>> for attr in myvar.ncattrs():
... print attr, '=', getattr(windspeed, attr)
...
long_name = Wind speed
Units = m/s
Further reading
Python-netCDF4:
http://netcdf4-python.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/docs/netCDF4-module.html

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