Re: NetCDF and NaN

• To: "Stephens, A (Ag) " <A.Stephens@xxxxxxxx>
• Subject: Re: NetCDF and NaN
• From: Russ Rew <russ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Wed, 04 Dec 2002 10:55:18 -0700

Hi Ag,

> Does NetCDF include a definition for Not a Number (NaN)?

No, netCDF was originally designed to run on lots of platforms,
including those that don't support IEEE floating point, such as DEC
VAXen and early Crays.

However, you can store NaNs in netCDF files and the conversion between
native representation and XDR preserves NaN-ness on IEEE platforms.
That's why some users use NaNs for the "_FillValue" attribute.

--Russ

_____________________________________________________________________

Russ Rew                                         UCAR Unidata Program
russ@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                     http://www.unidata.ucar.edu

• References:
  • NetCDF and NaN
    • From: Stephens, A (Ag)