What is a NetCDF file?

NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) is a self-describing array format from UCAR/Unidata. Each variable carries its dimensions, units, and other attributes alongside the raw numbers — making it the de-facto exchange format for climate and atmospheric science.

Does this open NetCDF-4 files?

Not directly. NetCDF-4 is layered on top of HDF5; netcdfjs only handles the original Classic and 64-bit-offset variants. If your file fails to open here, try the HDF5 viewer.

What are dimensions and variables?

Dimensions name and size each axis (time, lat, lon, depth). Variables are arrays indexed by one or more of those dimensions, plus their own attribute metadata. CF Conventions standardize the names of common attributes like units and long_name.

No. The file is decoded locally in your browser by netcdfjs; nothing leaves your device.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. The variables panel collapses above the detail view on narrow screens.

Scientific.nc · .nc4

NetCDF viewer

ready

NetCDF · .nc · .nc4

Open NetCDF files

Climate/atmospheric scientific arrays.

Choose a fileor paste · ⌘V

About NetCDF

Climate/atmospheric scientific arrays.

NetCDF is the climate-science workhorse: multi-dimensional arrays with coordinate variables, units, and CF-Conventions metadata. It's the format behind ERA5 reanalysis, satellite swaths, model output from the IPCC ensembles, and most ocean observing systems. This viewer uses netcdfjs to parse Classic and 64-bit-offset NetCDF (NetCDF-3) entirely in the browser. It enumerates dimensions, lists variables with their CF attributes (units, long_name, _FillValue), and previews the first values of any selected variable. NetCDF-4 (HDF5-backed) files won't open here — try the HDF5 viewer for those.

FAQ

What is a NetCDF file?: NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) is a self-describing array format from UCAR/Unidata. Each variable carries its dimensions, units, and other attributes alongside the raw numbers — making it the de-facto exchange format for climate and atmospheric science.
Does this open NetCDF-4 files?: Not directly. NetCDF-4 is layered on top of HDF5; netcdfjs only handles the original Classic and 64-bit-offset variants. If your file fails to open here, try the HDF5 viewer.
What are dimensions and variables?: Dimensions name and size each axis (time, lat, lon, depth). Variables are arrays indexed by one or more of those dimensions, plus their own attribute metadata. CF Conventions standardize the names of common attributes like units and long_name.
Is my file uploaded?: No. The file is decoded locally in your browser by netcdfjs; nothing leaves your device.
Does it work on mobile?: Yes. The variables panel collapses above the detail view on narrow screens.

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