2.0 Using ncBrowse to read netCDF file

This command is a Java application and can be obtained at ( http://www.epic.noaa.gov/java/ncBrowse/  ). This command allows the contents of variables, global attributes to be viewed graphically. It can run on UNIX (and linux), Windows and Macintosh's (Max OSX) which have the Java Virtual Machine installed (see the above web site or the Java web sites  http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.2  , http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/  ) .

NcBrowse has been extended over the earlier versions.  It now works with both COARDS  and EPIC  compliant netcdf files.  The WOCE Global Data V3 set are COARDS compliant and therefore should allow the automatic display of plot elements such as labels and variable names and units.  The interface is largely self explanatory and provides wonderful method for browsing generic netCDF files.

2.1 Exporting netcdf files

 ncBrowse allows the user to export parts (or all) of a file in the same format as the ncdump command (described elsewhere in this document).  Thus, for many users who require the analysis of relatively few data files , ncBrowse can provide the first quick look at the WOCE, and should the data require further calculation allow export of the data to a flat ascii file.

 2.2 OPenDAP files (formerly DODS)

The WOCE Global Data V3 data are also to be delivered over the world wide web.  ncBrowse also includes the capability to browse the WOCE netcdf files over the web using the OPenDAP  protocol (formerly know as DODS).  This feature means that the WOCE Global Data V3 data set doesnot need to be resident on your local hardware.

Installation of JAVA is straightforward under Windows and Linux (Redhat 7.1) and ncBrowse installs very easily on top of this.

This product is well worth installing and using for the quick plotting and export of  netCDF files as part of the
WOCE Global Data V3.