Mathematica Import/Export Format

NetCDF (.nc)

MIME type: application/x-netcdf
NetCDF data file format.
Self-describing format for exchanging scientific data.
Used in atmospheric research, GIS, and related fields.
NetCDF is an acronym derived from network Common Data Form.
Binary file format.
Conceptually based on CDF, but incompatible with this format.
Developed by the Unidata center at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).

Import supports Version 3 of the netCDF format.

IMPORT

Import["file.cdf"] imports a netCDF file, returning the names of the datasets stored in the file.

Import["file.cdf"] returns a list of strings representing the names of all datasets contained in the file.

Import["file.cdf", elem] imports the specified element from a netCDF file.

Import["file.cdf", {elem, sub_a, sub_b, ...}] imports a subelement.

Import["file.cdf", {{elem₁, elem₂, ...}}] imports multiple elements.

The import format can be specified with Import["file", "NetCDF"] or Import["file", {"NetCDF", elem, ...}].

See the reference pages for full general information on Import.

ImportString supports the netCDF format.

ELEMENTS

General Import elements:

	"Elements"	list of elements and options available in this file
	"Rules"	full list of rules for each element and option
	"Options"	list of rules for options, properties and settings

Data representation elements:

	"Data"	all datasets imported as a list of arrays
	"Datasets"	names of all datasets

Import by default uses the "Datasets" element for the netCDF format.

Specifying and selecting datasets:

	"Datasets", n	n dataset
	"Datasets", dataset	named dataset

Meta-information elements:

	"Annotations"	meta-information for each dataset
	"DataFormat"	type used to represent each dataset
	"Dimensions"	data dimensions of each dataset
	"Metadata"	general meta-information as a list of rules

The following values can be given for "DataFormat":

	"Date"	dates, given as DateList specifications
	"Integer8"	8-bit integers
	"Integer16"	16-bit integers
	"Integer32"	32-bit integers
	"UnsignedInteger8"	unsigned 8-bit integers
	"UnsignedInteger16"	unsigned 16-bit integers
	"UnsignedInteger32"	unsigned 32-bit integers
	"Real32"	IEEE single-precision numbers
	"Real64"	IEEE double-precision numbers
	"String"	strings of ASCII characters