Exporting to netCDF data from a raster

You can export a raster or a raster catalog to a netCDF file. Raster cell values are exported as netCDF variables. Longitude and latitude, or x- and y-coordinate values, are exported as coordinate variables.

A single-band raster is exported as a variable of rank 2, which means it has two dimensions, representing x- and y-coordinates. A multiband raster is exported with an additional dimension to represent different bands. Fields from a raster catalog are exported as additional dimensions.

The Raster to NetCDF tool always creates a new netCDF file or overwrites an existing one. It does not append to an existing netCDF file.

Steps:

1. Click the Search window button or tab.
2. Click Tools.
3. Type Raster to NetCDF in the text box and click Search .
4. Click Raster to NetCDF in the returned list to open the tool.
5. Type the name in the Input Raster text box, or click the browse button to navigate to the input raster.
6. Type the name in Output netCDF File, or leave the default.
7. Type the variable name in the Variable text box, or leave the default.
8. Type the units in Variable Units, or leave it empty.
9. Type the dimension name in X Dimension, or leave the default.
10. Type the dimension name in Y Dimension, or leave the default.
11. Type the dimension name in Band Dimension, or leave the default.

    This parameter is applicable for a multiband raster input only.

12. If the input is a raster catalog, click the Fields to Dimensions drop-down arrow and choose a field to make it a dimension of the variable specified in the Variable parameter.
13. Click the Dimension column next to the added field and type in the dimension name, or leave the default.
14. Click the Units column next to the added field and type in the units, or leave it empty.
15. Repeat steps 12, 13, and 14 to add additional fields.
16. Click OK.