[netcdfgroup] Issue with time variable for Monte Carlo "scenarios"

• To: "netcdfgroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <netcdfgroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Subject: [netcdfgroup] Issue with time variable for Monte Carlo "scenarios"
• From: Daniel Wright <danielb.wright@xxxxxxxx>
• Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2022 17:18:28 +0000
• Arc-authentication-results: i=1; mx.microsoft.com 1; spf=pass smtp.mailfrom=wisc.edu; dmarc=pass action=none header.from=wisc.edu; dkim=pass header.d=wisc.edu; arc=none
• Arc-message-signature: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=microsoft.com; s=arcselector9901; h=From:Date:Subject:Message-ID:Content-Type:MIME-Version:X-MS-Exchange-AntiSpam-MessageData-ChunkCount:X-MS-Exchange-AntiSpam-MessageData-0:X-MS-Exchange-AntiSpam-MessageData-1; bh=UFcd+uBLAcBSsij7rpNL5b/H35GchryY6IwSn+2kZ8o=; b=CCnsSdqAg6FPs17VwfcZxig1sg6CRqvmQTo7tiHyHbAGi+huB7eYNEobyBoWSKiV4sVf8tLWJzZ2Ypf7nHejLTcKVDPb5TQ2UAqguXsAlV5ZuuyZ6DhnJLYKNJP6JiLDik9IPwvogkL7p/gcRqzcxF2nyY9gyMl8n7O+dmJZsFboP0wKS6C/p/K9XQCFJsgVvaMY3xqxjXuL1vS1M3vBgeDn14Uy0U3kVMum2H1IFVz9NN2RDUIRm9LuLKQX/KMbQs/A1++J0SPWo6J13CTy+ONfDpz6igmTJwtOWgK4cxCuLxj+8PgidsVeDdPN90VFBD+4hh7gSV+Pd//oOgpPTw==
• Arc-seal: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; s=arcselector9901; d=microsoft.com; cv=none; b=UzJ+A5gq37JO42+s5jRRJEpIuaTT5IjXM8FJjsj9uYvdsveFLfixHwENeFk5w18J8crrUBYUczPSsKd55aK3Ge3iKn2Rh03bNkrEwbMa8Zz1WGwOEP2y9ZZg6yTcHRB7BiGSfzakrusAa8z94vWmtebRtI8i/nIm2T75ELGoKMfd2WdcqyCrDW/KMWZyw5joHZtg/Q32AG4cfJWGrlKbgHoQxJv46+ZlUIj6C4DY5nMXeAoH2fu1wlC2p/xxFf7ICZRbeowgF9Z+kQjNPtxqV9YOdmAp9K4k5rRBu9RPdCKHEraprZZmhg3+Ow64hYKxI5gg9NhVB7N4YBH9vya4sQ==
• Authentication-results: dkim=none (message not signed) header.d=none; dmarc=none action=none header.from=wisc.edu;

Hey everyone! New poster here.

I am the creator of a software, which, among other things, generates really 
large numbers of gridded precipitation “storm scenarios” in netcdf format, 
which can then be used for things like monte carlo simulation to estimate 
100-year floods. I have a question I am hoping someone could weigh in on. The 
question has real-world significance, because I am working with the US Army 
Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center to figure out how to get 
output from my RainyDay software into their flood simulation software.

Anyway, here’s the issue: Because the software generates large numbers (think 
10,000+) of rainstorm scenarios, each one has a distinct time (e.g. 72 hours of 
hourly precipitation), as well as a 2D (lat/lon) precipitation field for each 
time period. Of course it isn’t ideal to create 10,000+ separate netcdf files, 
one for each scenario. So instead I can create one or several files, which 
contain multiple storms. Consider this example: Say a file contains N=500 
storms, and each storm is comprised of 72 hours of hourly gridded data, but 
each storm has a different 72 hour period. My software currently writes the a 
2-dimensional ‘time’ variable, specifically of size 500x72. This can be done, 
but as far as I can tell this violates CF standards.

So the question is basically is there an alternative way that is compliant with 
standards like CF, but that can contain a large number of gridded “scenarios” 
each with a different time?

Thanks,

Dan

--
Daniel B. Wright
Associate Professor
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Hydroclimate Extremes Research Group (https://her.cee.wisc.edu/)

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: [netcdfgroup] Issue with time variable for Monte Carlo "scenarios"
    • From: Joe Lee
  • Re: [netcdfgroup] Issue with time variable for Monte Carlo "scenarios"
    • From: Dave Allured - NOAA Affiliate