A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)

The CF (Climate and Forecast) metadata conventions are designed to promote the creation, processing, and sharing of climate and forecasting data using Network Common Data Form (netCDF) files and libraries. The CF conventions provide a description of the physical meaning of data and of their spati...

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Main Authors: D. Hassell, J. Gregory, J. Blower, B. N. Lawrence, K. E. Taylor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2017-12-01
Series:Geoscientific Model Development
Online Access:https://www.geosci-model-dev.net/10/4619/2017/gmd-10-4619-2017.pdf
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author D. Hassell
J. Gregory
J. Gregory
J. Blower
B. N. Lawrence
K. E. Taylor
author_facet D. Hassell
J. Gregory
J. Gregory
J. Blower
B. N. Lawrence
K. E. Taylor
author_sort D. Hassell
collection DOAJ
description The CF (Climate and Forecast) metadata conventions are designed to promote the creation, processing, and sharing of climate and forecasting data using Network Common Data Form (netCDF) files and libraries. The CF conventions provide a description of the physical meaning of data and of their spatial and temporal properties, but they depend on the netCDF file encoding which can currently only be fully understood and interpreted by someone familiar with the rules and relationships specified in the conventions documentation. To aid in development of CF-compliant software and to capture with a minimal set of elements all of the information contained in the CF conventions, we propose a formal data model for CF which is independent of netCDF and describes all possible CF-compliant data. Because such data will often be analysed and visualised using software based on other data models, we compare our CF data model with the ISO 19123 coverage model, the Open Geospatial Consortium CF netCDF standard, and the Unidata Common Data Model. To demonstrate that this CF data model can in fact be implemented, we present cf-python, a Python software library that conforms to the model and can manipulate any CF-compliant dataset.
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spelling doaj.art-06098c3c8107466fa0cf9527dc7491ef2022-12-22T03:15:25ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeoscientific Model Development1991-959X1991-96032017-12-01104619464610.5194/gmd-10-4619-2017A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)D. Hassell0J. Gregory1J. Gregory2J. Blower3B. N. Lawrence4K. E. Taylor5National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UKMet Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, Exeter, UKInstitute for Environmental Analytics, University of Reading, Reading, UKNational Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, UKProgram for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USAThe CF (Climate and Forecast) metadata conventions are designed to promote the creation, processing, and sharing of climate and forecasting data using Network Common Data Form (netCDF) files and libraries. The CF conventions provide a description of the physical meaning of data and of their spatial and temporal properties, but they depend on the netCDF file encoding which can currently only be fully understood and interpreted by someone familiar with the rules and relationships specified in the conventions documentation. To aid in development of CF-compliant software and to capture with a minimal set of elements all of the information contained in the CF conventions, we propose a formal data model for CF which is independent of netCDF and describes all possible CF-compliant data. Because such data will often be analysed and visualised using software based on other data models, we compare our CF data model with the ISO 19123 coverage model, the Open Geospatial Consortium CF netCDF standard, and the Unidata Common Data Model. To demonstrate that this CF data model can in fact be implemented, we present cf-python, a Python software library that conforms to the model and can manipulate any CF-compliant dataset.https://www.geosci-model-dev.net/10/4619/2017/gmd-10-4619-2017.pdf
spellingShingle D. Hassell
J. Gregory
J. Gregory
J. Blower
B. N. Lawrence
K. E. Taylor
A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)
Geoscientific Model Development
title A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)
title_full A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)
title_fullStr A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)
title_full_unstemmed A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)
title_short A data model of the Climate and Forecast metadata conventions (CF-1.6) with a software implementation (cf-python v2.1)
title_sort data model of the climate and forecast metadata conventions cf 1 6 with a software implementation cf python v2 1
url https://www.geosci-model-dev.net/10/4619/2017/gmd-10-4619-2017.pdf
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