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 Contents pane, click Sharing, and then Save As Layer File, or use the Save To Layer File tool from the Data Management Tools toolbox.

Note:

You cannot add a netCDF feature layer 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 Analysis tab.
2. Click Tools.
3. Type Make NetCDF Feature Layer in the text box.
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, check one or more variables from the list, then click Add.

   The variables added must share at least one dimension.

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, check one or more dimensions from the list, then click Add.
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 Dimension Values drop-down arrow, check one or more dimensions from the list, then click Add. For each dimension added, click the Value drop-down list next to the added dimension and choose a value.
14. Click Run.

    An in-memory feature layer is created. You cannot see this layer in the Catalog tree, but it can be used as input to geoprocessing tools that support it.