NetCDF

NetCDF, Network Common Data Form, is the self-describing binary file format and software library developed by Unidata for array-oriented scientific data, the dominant standard for ocean, atmospheric, and climate datasets. A NetCDF file stores multidimensional variables with named dimensions and embedded metadata, so a dataset carries its own units, coordinates, and description. The Climate and Forecast, CF, metadata conventions standardize variable names, units, and coordinate semantics so files from different sources interoperate. NetCDF-4 builds on HDF5 for compression and chunking. ERA5, GLORYS, Argo, and Copernicus Marine products are distributed in CF-compliant NetCDF, which model and analysis tools read directly.