Reading netCDF data as a point feature layer

Using the Make NetCDF Feature Layer tool from the Multidimension toolbox, you can create a point feature layer from one or more netCDF variables. The output feature layer can be used in other tools that accept point features as input for further analysis. To save the output layer, right-click the layer in the ArcMap table of contents and click Save As Layer File, or use the Save To Layer File tool from the Data Management Tools toolbox.

Note:

You cannot add a netCDF file using the Add Data button .

Variables representing a time series of station data, trajectories, uniformly spaced gridded points, and so forth, are suitable for creating a point feature class. The fields in the output feature attribute table are populated with the data from the selected variables. The type of field is determined by the netCDF variable type. The following example shows a time series of humidity and temperature at various stations:

dimensions:
	station = 10;  // measurement locations
	pressure = 11;
	time = UNLIMITED;
variables:
	float humidity(time, pressure, station);
		humidity:long_name = "Specific humidity" ;
		humidity:coordinates = "lat lon" ;
	float temperature(time, pressure, station);
		temperature:long_name = "Temperature" ;
		temperature:coordinates = "lat lon" ;
	double time(time);
		time:long_name = "time of measurement" ;
		time:units = "days since 1970-01-01 00:00:00" ;
	float lon(station);
		lon:long_name = "station longitude";
		lon:units = "degrees_east";
	float lat(station);
		lat:long_name = "station latitude" ;
		lat:units = "degrees_north" ;
	float pressure(pressure);
		pressure:long_name = "pressure" ;
		pressure:units = "hPa" ;

1. Click the Search Window button or tab.
2. Click Tools.
3. Type Make NetCDF Feature Layer in the text box and click Search .
4. Click Make NetCDF Feature Layer in the returned list to open the tool.
5. Type the name in the Input netCDF File text box, or alternatively, click the browse button to navigate to the input file.
6. Click the Variables drop-down arrow and choose a variable from the list.

   The drop-down list is updated with the variables that share at least one dimension with the selected variable. Repeat this step to add more variables.

7. Click the X Variable drop-down arrow and choose a variable from the list, or alternatively, leave the default.
8. Click the Y Variable drop-down arrow and choose a variable from the list, or alternatively, leave the default.
9. Type the name in the Output Feature Layer text box, or alternatively, leave the default.
10. Click the Row Dimensions drop-down arrow and choose a dimension from the list. Repeat this step to add more dimensions.
11. Click the Z Variable drop-down arrow and choose a variable from the list.
12. Click the M Variable drop-down arrow and choose a variable from the list.
13. To specify a slice other than the default of multidimensional data, click the Default Values drop-down arrow and choose a dimension from the list. The dimension is added to the table. Click the Value drop-down arrow next to the added dimension and choose a value. Repeat this step to specify values for other dimensions.
14. Click OK.

    An in-memory feature layer is created. You cannot see this layer in the ArcCatalog tree, but it can be used as input to geoprocessing tools that support it. In ArcMap, a feature layer is added to the table of contents.

Note:

In Windows Explorer, you can also drag and drop a netCDF file directly into ArcMap. If the file does not contain variables suitable for a raster layer but contains variables suitable for a feature layer, a feature layer is created and displayed using the first variable.