This dictionary describes the modeling output generic variables This is the umbrella class for the AMA (Atmospheric Modeling Annex) local dictionary. The coordinate sub-class contains attributes that describe coordinates in external data files.These attributes should be populated automatically for each variable using the python script (readmetadata) The file_description sub-class contains attributes that describe the specific file, rather than the original simulation. The intention is to make the data searchable, e.g for a specific location or time of year. The Model_Metadata class contains those attributes and sub-classes that describe the model metadata. Metadata is anything that describes the model and specific simulation configuration that is not described by dimensions, coordinates or variables included in the data product. The Model_Output class contains those attributes and sub-classes that describe the model output. Model output includes coordinate, dimensions and variable products as well as information about variable processing, for example, to generate figure data. Most attributes are generated automatically from the python script The Simulation_Configuration sub-class contains attributes that describe the specific simulation configuration that is not described by dimensions, coordinates or variables included in the data product. This class specifically describes the simulation configuration at runtime, not the data structure after processing (e.g. it provides the native vertical coordinate while the model output files may be interpolated to a new vertical grid The variable sub-class contains attributes that describe variables and coordinates in external data files.These attributes should be populated automatically for each variable using the python script (readmetadata) This section contains the simpleTypes that provide more constraints than those at the base data type level. The simpleTypes defined here build on the base data types. This is another component of the common dictionary and therefore falls within the common namespace. add_offset if there is any; scale factor and add offset are used to reduce the storage space of packed variable unpacked_value = packed_value * scale_factor + add_offset Identifies latitude, longitude, vertical, or time axes. The bottom_level attribute provides the bottom most coverage expressed in pressure level. In order to calculate a new date and time given a base date, base time and a time increment one must know what calendar to use. For this purpose we recommend that the calendar be specified by the attribute calendar which is assigned to the time coordinate variable. Approximately 80-character string which is a textual description of the variable ia string attribute comprising a list of blank-separated words of the form "name: method". Each "name: method" pair indicates that for an axis identified by name, the cell values representing the field have been determined or derived by the specified method. For example, if data values have been generated by computing time means, then this could be indicated with cell_methods="time:mean(interval=2 hours)" The name of the variable in the file The unit of the variable in the file he description attribute can be used to describe the specific simulation configuration, including specific inputs, parameterizations, variable, processing, etc in greater detail. The names of dimensions the variable in the file The dimensions of the variable in the file The eastern_boundary attribute provides the eastern most coordinate of the limit of coverage expressed in longitude The end_time attribute provides the coverage end time expressed in any format of time. A description of the variable (up to 30 characters). The value used for missing or invalid variable values. The format of the variable in the file an attribute used to associate terms in the definitions with variables in a netCDF file Identifies the native horizontal grid of the model (e.g lat/lon, cube sphere, etc) Identifies the host institution or author of the model The interval size of the coordinate space, used for uniform grids, specify 'non-uniform' if coordinate grid spacing is non-uniform. level/model/height at which variable is outputted The level_unit attribute provides the unit of pressure in the output file. The long name of the variable in the file The lower_boundary attribute provides the bottom most coverage limit in levels such as pressure the maximum boundary of the coordinate The memory order of the variable in the file the minimum boundary of the coordinate The unit of the variable in the file identifies the horizontal resolution (dx,dy) of the model in km, m, degrees. identifies the unit of the horizontal grid km, m, degrees. Identifies the base model timestep Identifies the unit of the base model timestep Whether the variable is monotonically increasing or monotonically decreasing. A value of INCREASE indicates strictly increasing values, DECREASE strictly decreasing values, or FALSE indicates not monotonic If none of the calendar types apply, a non-standard calendar can be defined. The user must explicitly define the number of days per month Describes the name of the model (e.g NASA Ames Mars MGCM) The northern_boundary attribute provides the northern most coordinate of the limit of coverage expressed in latitude. the direction in which the coordinate values are increasing a description of post-processing operating on all data in the file, including time mean, interpolation etc. Methodology can be described in text or using netcdf standard recommendations for cell_methods (e.g. for a zonal time-mean with a three hour interval, 'time:mean(interval=3 hours) longitude:mean' scale factor provides the multiplier to the packed value, unpacked_value=packed_value * scale_factor + add_offset The southern_boundary attribute provides the southern most coordinate of the limit of coverage expressed in latitude. The unit of the variable in the file Optional Attribute to identify the variable with a specific standard name (see python script add metadata) The start_time attribute provides the coverage start time expressed in any format of time The time_unit attribute provides the unit of time in the output file. The top_level attribute provides the top most coverage expressed in pressure level Model Type (e.g GCM, MESOSCALE, ASSIMILATION) The unit of the variable in the file The lower_boundary attribute provides the top most coverage limit in levels such as pressure The maximum valid value for a variable. The minimum valid value for a variable. Identifies a variable as either data, support_data, metadata or ignore_data. The name of the variable in the file Identifies the specific version of the model (e.g v3.0) Identifies the vertical grid type (e.g. SIGMA, HYBRID-SIGMA, ALTITUDE, PRESSURE) Identifies the unit of the vertical grid type (e.g. Pa, mbar, km, m) The western_boundary attribute provides the western most coordinate of the limit of coverage expressed in longitude.