[CF-metadata] Multiple units attribute for an array of polynomial coefficients

From: Timothy Patterson <Timothy.Patterson>
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2016 17:07:33 +0000

I have a set of measurement data to which I fit a polynomial and store the coefficients in a single netCDF file along with other information.

The degree of the polynomial is not always the same, so for flexibility I planned to store the coefficients in a single array variable rather than as separate variables so that I have one format that handles any degree of polynomial.

As I'm fitting measurement data, the coefficients have associated units. If I stored the data as individual variables, I could attach these values via a "units" attribute, but I'm storing the values in an array. However, an attribute can be a vector of values so in theory it could be possible to define a vector "units" attribute of the same length as my array dimension and thereby associate a different unit value to each coefficient.

I think this probably violates the CF conventions and that when the conventions state - "The value of the units attribute is a string" - that I should interpret that as meaning a single string and not a vector of strings.

Is there a better and CF-compliant way to handle this, or should I just resign myself to the fact that if I want the flexibility of an array variable, the users will have to work out the units for themselves?

Thanks!

Tim


_________________________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Tim Patterson
Instrument Data Simulation Expert
Product Engineering/Test Data Coordination
MTG Programme
GEO Division

EUMETSAT
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64295 Darmstadt
Germany

Tel: +49 6151 807 487
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E-mail: timothy.patterson at eumetsat.int
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Received on Wed Apr 06 2016 - 11:07:33 BST