Statistical collapses

Collapsing one or more dimensions reduces their size and replaces the data along those axes with representative statistical values. The result is a new field construct with consistent metadata for the collapsed values. Collapses are carried with the collapse method of the field construct.

By default all axes with size greater than 1 are collapsed completely (i.e. to size 1) with a given collapse method.

Find the minimum of the entire data.
>>> import cf
>>> a = cf.read('timeseries.nc')[0]
>>> print(a)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> b = a.collapse('minimum')
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(1), latitude(1), longitude(1)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(1): latitude(1): longitude(1): minimum
Dimension coords: time(1) = [1964-11-30 12:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(b.array)
[[[198.9]]]

In the above example, note that the operation has been recorded in a new cell method construct (time(1): latitude(1): longitude(1): minimum) in the output field construct, and the dimension coordinate constructs each now have a single cell. The air pressure time dimension was not included in the collapse because it already had size 1 in the original field construct.

The collapse can also be applied to any subset of the field construct’s dimensions. In this case, the domain axis and coordinate constructs for the non-collapsed dimensions remain the same. This is implemented either with the axes keyword, or with a CF-netCDF cell methods-like syntax for describing both the collapse dimensions and the collapse method in a single string. The latter syntax uses construct identities instead of netCDF dimension names to identify the collapse axes.

Statistics may be created to represent variation over one dimension or a combination of dimensions.

Two equivalent techniques for creating a field construct of temporal maxima at each horizontal location.
>>> b = a.collapse('maximum', axes='T')
>>> b = a.collapse('T: maximum')
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(1), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(1): maximum
Dimension coords: time(1) = [1964-11-30 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(b.array)
[[[310.6 309.1 309.9 311.2 310.4 310.1 310.7 309.6]
  [310.  310.7 311.1 311.3 310.9 311.2 310.6 310. ]
  [308.9 309.8 311.2 311.2 311.2 309.3 311.1 310.7]
  [310.1 310.3 308.8 311.1 310.  311.3 311.2 309.7]
  [310.9 307.9 310.3 310.4 310.8 310.9 311.3 309.3]]]
Find the horizontal maximum, with two equivalent techniques.
>>> b = a.collapse('maximum', axes=['X', 'Y'])
>>> b = a.collapse('X: Y: maximum')
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(1), longitude(1)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean latitude(1): longitude(1): maximum
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa

Variation over horizontal area may also be specified by the special identity 'area'. This may be used for any horizontal coordinate reference system.

Find the horizontal maximum using the special identity ‘area’.
>>> b = a.collapse('area: maximum')
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(1), longitude(1)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean area: maximum
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa

Collapse methods

The following collapse methods are available, over any subset of the domain axes. The “Cell method” column in the table gives the method name, defined by the CF conventions, of the new cell method construct (if one is created).

Method

Description

Cell method

'sample_size'

The sample size, \(N\), equal to the number of non-missing values.

point

'maximum'

The maximum of the non-missing values.

\[m_x=\max\{x_0, \ldots, x_N\}\]

maximum

'minimum'

The minimum of the non-missing values.

\[m_n=\min\{x_0, \ldots, x_N\}\]

minimum

'maximum_absolute_value'

The maximum of the non-missing absolute values.

\[\max\{|x_0|, \ldots, |x_N|\}\]

maximum_absolute_value

'minimum_absolute_value'

The minimum of the non-missing absolute values.

\[\min\{|x_0|, \ldots, |x_N|\}\]

minimum_absolute_value

'mid_range'

The average of the maximum and the minimum of the non-missing values.

\[\frac{m_x + m_n}{2}\]

mid_range

'range'

The absolute difference between the maximum and the minimum of the non-missing values.

\[m_x - m_n\]

range

'median'

The median of the \(N\) non-missing values.

median

'sum_of_weights'

The sum of the \(N\) weights \(w_i\) that correspond to non-missing values.

\[V_{1}=\sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i\]

sum

'sum_of_weights2'

The sum of the squares of the \(N\) weights \(w_i\) that correspond to non-missing values.

\[V_{2}=\sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i^{2}\]

sum

'sum'

The unweighted sum of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) is

\[t=\sum_{i=1}^{N} x_i\]

The weighted sum of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) with corresponding weights \(w_i\) is

\[\hat{t}=\sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i x_i\]

sum

'sum_of_squares'

The unweighted sum of the squares of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) is

\[t_2=\sum_{i=1}^{N} x_{i}^{2}\]

The weighted sum of the squares of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) with corresponding weights \(w_i\) is

\[\hat{t}_2=\sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i x_{i}^{2}\]

sum_of_squares

'integral'

The weighted sum of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) with corresponding cell measures \(m_i\).

\[i=\sum_{i=1}^{N} m_i x_i\]

Note

The integral differs from a weighted sum in that the units of the measures are incorporated into the result.

sum

'mean'

The unweighted mean of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) is

\[\mu=\frac{1}{N}\sum_{i=1}^{N} x_i\]

The weighted mean of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) with corresponding weights \(w_i\). is

\[\hat{\mu}=\frac{1}{V_{1}} \sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i x_i\]

mean

'mean_absolute_value'

The unweighted mean of the \(N\) non-missing absolute values \(x_i\) is

\[\mu_{abs}=\frac{1}{N} \sum_{i=1}^{N}|x_i|\]

The weighted mean of the \(N\) non-missing absolute values \(x_i\) with corresponding weights \(w_i\) is

\[\hat{\mu}_{abs}= \frac{1}{V_{1}} \sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i |x_i|\]

mean_absolute_value

'mean_of_upper_decile'

The weighted or unweighted mean of the upper group of data values defined by the upper tenth of their distribution

mean_of_upper_decile

'variance'

The unweighted variance of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) and with \(N-ddof\) degrees of freedom (\(ddof\ge0\)) is

\[s_{N-ddof}^{2}= \frac{1}{N-ddof} \sum_{i=1}^{N} (x_i - \mu)^2\]

The unweighted biased estimate of the variance (\(s_{N}^{2}\)) is given by \(ddof=0\) and the unweighted unbiased estimate of the variance using Bessel’s correction (\(s^{2}=s_{N-1}^{2}\)) is given by \(ddof=1\).

The weighted biased estimate of the variance of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) with corresponding weights \(w_i\) is

\[\hat{s}_{N}^{2}= \frac{1}{V_{1}} \sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i(x_i - \hat{\mu})^{2}\]

The weighted unbiased estimate of the variance of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) with corresponding weights \(w_i\) is

\[\hat{s}^{2}=\frac{1}{V_{1} - (V_{1}/V_{2})} \sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i(x_i - \hat{\mu})^{2}\]

Note

The weights used in the variance calculations are assumed to be non-random reliability weights, as opposed to frequency weights.

variance

'standard_deviation'

The standard deviation is the square root of the unweighted or weighted variance.

standard_deviation

'root_mean_square'

The unweighted root mean square of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) is

\[r=\sqrt{\frac{1}{N} \sum_{i=1}^{N} x_{i}^2}\]

The weighted root mean square of the \(N\) non-missing values \(x_i\) with corresponding weights \(w_i\) is

\[\hat{r}=\sqrt{ \frac{1}{V_{1}} \sum_{i=1}^{N} w_i x_{i}^2}\]

root_mean_square

Data type and missing data

In all collapses, missing data array elements are accounted for in the calculation.

Any collapse method that involves a calculation (such as calculating a mean), as opposed to only selecting a value (such as finding a maximum), will return a field containing double precision floating point numbers. If this is not desired then the data type can be reset after the collapse with the dtype attribute of the field construct.

Collapse weights

For weights to be incorporated in the collapse, the axes to be weighted must be identified with the weights keyword. A collapse by a particular method is either never weighted, or may be weighted, or is always weighted, as described in the following table:

Method

Description

Weighted

'maximum'

The maximum of the values.

Never

'minimum'

The minimum of the values.

Never

'maximum_absolute_value'

The maximum of the absolute.

Never

'minimum_absolute_value'

The minimum of the absolute.

Never

'mid_range'

The average of the maximum and the minimum of the values.

Never

'range'

The absolute difference between the maximum and the minimum of the values.

Never

'median'

The median of the values.

Never

'sum'

The sum of the values.

Never

'sum_of_squares'

The sum of the squares of values.

Never

'sample_size'

The sample size, i.e. the number of non-missing values.

Never

'sum_of_weights'

The sum of weights, as would be used for other calculations.

Never

'sum_of_weights2'

The sum of squares of weights, as would be used for other calculations.

Never

'mean'

The weighted or unweighted mean of the values.

May be

'mean_absolute_value'

The mean of the absolute values.

May be

'mean_of_upper_decile'

The mean of the upper group of data values defined by the upper tenth of their distribution.

May be

'variance'

The weighted or unweighted variance of the values, with a given number of degrees of freedom.

May be

'standard_deviation'

The weighted or unweighted standard deviation of the values with a given number of degrees of freedom.

May be

'root_mean_square'

The square root of the weighted or unweighted mean of the squares of the values.

May be

'integral'

The integral of values.

Always

  • Collapse methods that are “Never” weighted ignore the weights parameter, even if it is set.

  • Collapse methods that “May be” weighted will only be weighted if the weights parameter is set.

  • Collapse methods that are “Always” weighted require the weights parameter to be set.

Weights are either derived from the field construct’s metadata (such as cell sizes), or may be provided explicitly in the form of other field constructs containing data of weights values. In either case, the weights actually used are those derived by the weights method of the field construct called with the same weights keyword value. Collapsed axes that are not identified by the weights keyword are unweighted during the collapse operation.

Create a weighted time average.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: mean', weights=True)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(1), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(1): mean
Dimension coords: time(1) = [1964-11-30 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print (b.array)
[[[254.03120723 255.89723515 253.06490556 254.17815494 255.18458801 253.3684369  253.26624692 253.63818779]
  [248.92058582 253.99597591 259.67957843 257.08967972 252.57333698 252.5746236  258.90938954 253.86939502]
  [255.94716671 254.77330961 254.35929373 257.91478237 251.87670408 252.72723789 257.26038872 258.19698878]
  [258.08639474 254.8087873  254.9881741  250.98064604 255.3513003  256.66337257 257.86895702 259.49299206]
  [263.80016425 253.35825349 257.8026006  254.3173556  252.2061867  251.74150014 255.60930742 255.06260608]]]

To inspect the weights, call the weights method directly.

Create and view weights derived from the field construct’s time axis.
>>> w = a.weights(True)
>>> print(w)
Field: long_name=weights (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
----------------------------------------------------------
Data            : long_name=weights(time(120)) d
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
>>> print(w.array)
[31. 31. 29. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 28. 31. 30. 31.
 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 28. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30.
 31. 31. 28. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 29. 31. 30. 31.
 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 28. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30.
 31. 31. 28. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 28. 31. 30. 31.
 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 29. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30.
 31. 31. 28. 31. 30. 31. 30. 31. 31. 30. 31. 30.]
Calculate the mean over the time and latitude axes, with weights only applied to the latitude axis.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: Y: mean', weights='Y')
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(1), latitude(1), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(1): latitude(1): mean
Dimension coords: time(1) = [1964-11-30 12:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print (b.array)
[[[256.15819444 254.625      255.73666667 255.43041667 253.19444444 253.31277778 256.68236111 256.42055556]]]

Specifying weighting by horizontal cell area may also use the special 'area' syntax.

Alternative syntax for specifying area weights.
>>> b = a.collapse('area: mean', weights=True)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(1), longitude(1)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean area: mean
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa

An alternative technique for specifying weights is to set the weights keyword to the output of a call to the weights method.

Alternative syntax for specifying weights.
>>> b = a.collapse('area: mean', weights=a.weights('area'))
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(1), longitude(1)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean area: mean
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa

See the weights method for full details on how weights may be specified.

Multiple collapses

Multiple collapses normally require multiple calls to collapse: one on the original field construct and then one on each interim field construct.

Calculate the temporal maximum of the weighted areal means using two independent calls.
>>> b = a.collapse('area: mean', weights=True).collapse('T: maximum')
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(1), latitude(1), longitude(1)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean latitude(1): longitude(1): mean time(1): maximum
Dimension coords: time(1) = [1964-11-30 12:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(b.array)
[[[271.77199724]]]

If preferred, multiple collapses may be carried out in a single call to collapse by using the CF-netCDF cell methods-like syntax (note that the colon (:) is only used after the construct identity that specifies each axis, and a space delimits the separate collapses).

Calculate the temporal maximum of the weighted areal means in a single call, using the cf-netCDF cell methods-like syntax.
>>> b = a.collapse('area: mean T: maximum', weights=True)
>>> print(b.array)
[[[271.77199724]]]

Grouped collapses

A grouped collapse is one for which an axis is not collapsed completely to size 1. Instead the collapse axis is partitioned into non-overlapping groups and each group is collapsed to size 1. The resulting axis will generally have more than one element. For example, creating 12 annual means from a timeseries of 120 months would be a grouped collapse. The groups do not need to be created from adjacent cells, as would be the case when creating 12 multi-annual monthly means from a timeseries of 120 months.

Selected statistics for overlapping groups can be calculated with the moving_window method of the field construct.

The group keyword of collapse defines the size of the groups. Groups can be defined in a variety of ways, including with cf.Query, cf.TimeDuration (see the Time duration section) and cf.Data instances.

An element of the collapse axis can not be a member of more than one group, and may be a member of no groups. Elements that are not selected by the group keyword are excluded from the result.

Create annual maxima from a time series, defining a year to start on 1st January.
>>> y = cf.Y(month=12)
>>> y
<CF TimeDuration: P1Y (Y-12-01 00:00:00)>
>>> b = a.collapse('T: maximum', group=y)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(10), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(10): maximum
Dimension coords: time(10) = [1960-06-01 00:00:00, ..., 1969-06-01 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
Find the maximum of each group of 6 elements along an axis.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: maximum', group=6)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(20), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(20): maximum
Dimension coords: time(20) = [1960-03-01 12:00:00, ..., 1969-08-31 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
Create December, January, February maxima from a time series.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: maximum', group=cf.djf())
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(10), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(10): maximum time(10): maximum
Dimension coords: time(10) = [1960-01-15 12:00:00, ..., 1969-01-15 00:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
Create maxima for each 3-month season of a timeseries (DJF, MAM, JJA, SON).
>>> c = cf.seasons()
>>> c
[<CF Query: month[(ge 12) | (le 2)]>
 <CF Query: month(wi (3, 5))>,
 <CF Query: month(wi (6, 8))>,
 <CF Query: month(wi (9, 11))>]
>>> b = a.collapse('T: maximum', group=c)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(40), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(40): maximum time(40): maximum
Dimension coords: time(40) = [1960-01-15 12:00:00, ..., 1969-10-16 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
Calculate zonal means for the western and eastern hemispheres.
>>> b = a.collapse('X: mean', group=cf.Data(180, 'degrees'))
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(5), longitude(2)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean longitude(2): mean longitude(2): mean
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(2) = [90.0, 270.0] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa

Groups can be further described with the group_span (to include groups whose actual span is not equal to a given value) and the group_contiguous (to include non-contiguous groups, or any contiguous group containing overlapping cells) keywords of collapse.

Climatological statistics

Climatological statistics may be derived from corresponding portions of the annual cycle in a set of years (e.g. the average January temperatures in the climatology of 1961-1990, where the values are derived by averaging the 30 Januarys from the separate years); or from corresponding portions of the diurnal cycle in a set of days (e.g. the average temperatures for each hour in the day for May 1997). A diurnal climatology may also be combined with a multiannual climatology (e.g. the minimum temperature for each hour of the average day in May from a 1961-1990 climatology).

Calculation requires two or three collapses, depending on the quantity being created, all of which are grouped collapses. Each collapse method needs to indicate its climatological nature with one of the following qualifiers,

Method qualifier

Associated keyword

within years

within_years

within days

within_days

over years

over_years (optional)

over days

over_days (optional)

and the associated keyword to collapse specifies how the method is to be applied.

Calculate the multiannual average of the seasonal means.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: mean within years T: mean over years',
...                within_years=cf.seasons(), weights=True)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(4), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(4): mean within years time(4): mean over years
Dimension coords: time(4) = [1960-01-15 12:00:00, ..., 1960-10-16 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(b.coordinate('T').bounds.datetime_array)
[[cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1959-12-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-03-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-03-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-06-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-06-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-09-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-09-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-12-01 00:00:00)]]
Calculate the multiannual variance of the seasonal minima. Note that the units of the result have been changed from ‘K’ to ‘K2’.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: minimum within years T: variance over years',
...                within_years=cf.seasons(), weights=True)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(4), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K2
Cell methods    : area: mean time(4): minimum within years time(4): variance over years
Dimension coords: time(4) = [1960-01-15 12:00:00, ..., 1960-10-16 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(b.coordinate('T').bounds.datetime_array)
[[cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1959-12-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-03-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-03-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-06-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-06-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-09-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-09-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-12-01 00:00:00)]]

When collapsing over years, it is assumed by default that the each portion of the annual cycle is collapsed over all years that are present. This is the case in the above two examples. It is possible, however, to restrict the years to be included, or group them into chunks, with the over_years keyword to collapse.

Calculate the multiannual average of the seasonal means in 5 year chunks.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: mean within years T: mean over years', weights=True,
...                within_years=cf.seasons(), over_years=cf.Y(5))
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(8), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(8): mean within years time(8): mean over years
Dimension coords: time(8) = [1960-01-15 12:00:00, ..., 1965-10-16 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(b.coordinate('T').bounds.datetime_array)
[[cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1959-12-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1964-03-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-03-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1964-06-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-06-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1964-09-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1960-09-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1964-12-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1964-12-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-03-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1965-03-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-06-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1965-06-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-09-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1965-09-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-12-01 00:00:00)]]
Calculate the multiannual average of the seasonal means, restricting the years from 1963 to 1968.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: mean within years T: mean over years', weights=True,
...                within_years=cf.seasons(), over_years=cf.year(cf.wi(1963, 1968)))
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(4), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(4): mean within years time(4): mean over years
Dimension coords: time(4) = [1963-01-15 00:00:00, ..., 1963-10-16 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(b.coordinate('T').bounds.datetime_array)
[[cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1962-12-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1968-03-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1963-03-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1968-06-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1963-06-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1968-09-01 00:00:00)]
 [cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1963-09-01 00:00:00) cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1968-12-01 00:00:00)]]

Similarly for collapses over days, it is assumed by default that the each portion of the diurnal cycle is collapsed over all days that are present, But it is possible to restrict the days to be included, or group them into chunks, with the over_days keyword to collapse.

The calculation can be done with multiple collapse calls, which can be useful if the interim stages are needed independently, but be aware that the interim field constructs will have non-CF-compliant cell method constructs.

Calculate the multiannual maximum of the seasonal standard deviations with two separate collapse calls.
>>> b = a.collapse('T: standard_deviation within years',
...                within_years=cf.seasons(), weights=True)
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(40), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(40): standard_deviation within years
Dimension coords: time(40) = [1960-01-15 12:00:00, ..., 1969-10-16 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> c = b.collapse('T: maximum over years')
>>> print(c)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(4), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(4): standard_deviation within years time(4): maximum over years
Dimension coords: time(4) = [1960-01-15 12:00:00, ..., 1960-10-16 12:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa

Other statistical operations

Cumulative sums

The cumsum method of the field construct calculates the cumulative sum of elements along a given axis. The cell bounds of the axis are updated to describe the ranges over which the sums apply, and a new sum cell method construct is added to the resulting field construct.

Calculate cumulative sums along the “T” axis, showing the cell bounds before and after the operation.
>>> a = cf.read('timeseries.nc')[0]
>>> print(a)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> b = a.cumsum('T')
>>> print(b)
Field: air_potential_temperature (ncvar%air_potential_temperature)
------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : air_potential_temperature(time(120), latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean time(120): sum
Dimension coords: time(120) = [1959-12-16 12:00:00, ..., 1969-11-16 00:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : air_pressure(1) = [850.0] hPa
>>> print(a.coordinate('T').bounds[-1].dtarray)
[[cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-11-01 00:00:00)
  cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-12-01 00:00:00))]]
>>> print(b.coordinate('T').bounds[-1].dtarray)
[[cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1959-11-01 00:00:00)
  cftime.DatetimeGregorian(1969-12-01 00:00:00))]]

The treatment of missing values can be specified, as well as the positioning of coordinate values in the summed axis of the returned field construct.

Histograms

The cf.histogram function is used to record the distribution of a set of variables in the form of an N-dimensional histogram.

Each dimension of the histogram is defined by a field construct returned by the digitize method of a field construct. This “digitized” field construct defines a sequence of bins and provides indices to the bins that each value of one of the variables belongs.

Create a one-dimensional histogram of a field construct based on 10 equally-sized bins that exactly span the data range.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
Field: specific_humidity (ncvar%q)
----------------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> print(q.array)
[[0.007 0.034 0.003 0.014 0.018 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [0.023 0.036 0.045 0.062 0.046 0.073 0.006 0.066]
 [0.11  0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 0.057 0.011]
 [0.029 0.059 0.039 0.07  0.058 0.072 0.009 0.017]
 [0.006 0.036 0.019 0.035 0.018 0.037 0.034 0.013]]
>>> indices, bins = q.digitize(10, return_bins=True)
>>> print(indices)
Field: long_name=Bin index to which each 'specific_humidity' value belongs (ncvar%q)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data            : long_name=Bin index to which each 'specific_humidity' value belongs(latitude(5), longitude(8))
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_eastg
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> print(indices.array)
[[0 2 0 0 1 2 1 1]
 [1 2 2 4 3 4 0 4]
 [7 8 8 9 5 6 3 0]
 [1 3 2 4 3 4 0 0]
 [0 2 1 2 1 2 2 0]]
>>> print(bins.array)
[[0.003  0.0173]
 [0.0173 0.0316]
 [0.0316 0.0459]
 [0.0459 0.0602]
 [0.0602 0.0745]
 [0.0745 0.0888]
 [0.0888 0.1031]
 [0.1031 0.1174]
 [0.1174 0.1317]
 [0.1317 0.146 ]]
>>> h = cf.histogram(indices)
>>> print(h)
Field: number_of_observations
-----------------------------
Data            : number_of_observations(specific_humidity(10)) 1
Cell methods    : latitude: longitude: point
Dimension coords: specific_humidity(10) = [10.15, ..., 138.85000000000002] 1
>>> print(h.array)
[9 7 9 4 5 1 1 1 2 1]
>>> print(h.coordinate('specific_humidity').bounds.array)
[[0.003  0.0173]
 [0.0173 0.0316]
 [0.0316 0.0459]
 [0.0459 0.0602]
 [0.0602 0.0745]
 [0.0745 0.0888]
 [0.0888 0.1031]
 [0.1031 0.1174]
 [0.1174 0.1317]
 [0.1317 0.146 ]]
Create a two-dimensional histogram based on specific humidity and temperature bins. The temperature bins in this example are derived from a dummy temperature field construct with the same shape as the specific humidity field construct already in use.
>>> g = q.copy()
>>> g.standard_name = 'air_temperature'
>>> import numpy
>>> g[...] = numpy.random.normal(loc=290, scale=10, size=40).reshape(5, 8)
>>> g.override_units('K', inplace=True)
>>> print(g)
Field: air_temperature (ncvar%q)
--------------------------------
Data            : air_temperature(latitude(5), longitude(8)) K
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> indices_t = g.digitize(5)
>>> h = cf.histogram(indices, indices_t)
>>> print(h)
Field: number_of_observations
-----------------------------
Data            : number_of_observations(air_temperature(5), specific_humidity(10)) 1
Cell methods    : latitude: longitude: point
Dimension coords: air_temperature(5) = [281.1054839143287, ..., 313.9741786365939] K
                : specific_humidity(10) = [0.01015, ..., 0.13885] 1
>>> print(h.array)
[[2  1  5  3  2 -- -- -- -- --]
 [1  1  2 --  1 --  1  1 -- --]
 [4  4  2  1  1  1 -- --  1  1]
 [1  1 -- --  1 -- -- --  1 --]
 [1 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --]]
>>> h.sum()
<CF Data(): 40 1>

Binning operations

The bin method of the field construct groups its data into bins, where each group is defined by the elements that correspond to an N-dimensional histogram bin of another set of variables, and collapses the elements in each group to a single representative value. The same collapse methods and weighting options as the collapse method are available.

The result of the binning operation is a field construct whose domain axis and dimension coordinate constructs describe the sizes of the N-dimensional bins of the other set of variables.

Find the range of values that lie in each of bin 10 equally-sized bins of the data itself.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
Field: specific_humidity (ncvar%q)
----------------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 0.001 1
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> print(q.array)
[[0.007 0.034 0.003 0.014 0.018 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [0.023 0.036 0.045 0.062 0.046 0.073 0.006 0.066]
 [0.11  0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 0.057 0.011]
 [0.029 0.059 0.039 0.07  0.058 0.072 0.009 0.017]
 [0.006 0.036 0.019 0.035 0.018 0.037 0.034 0.013]]
>>> indices = q.digitize(5)
>>> b = q.bin('range', digitized=indices)
>>> print(b)
Field: specific_humidity
------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(specific_humidity(5)) 1
Cell methods    : latitude: longitude: range
Dimension coords: specific_humidity(5) = [0.0173, ..., 0.1317] 1
>>> print(b.array)
[0.026 0.025 0.025 0.007 0.022]
>>> print(b.coordinate('specific_humidity').bounds.array)
[[0.003  0.0316]
 [0.0316 0.0602]
 [0.0602 0.0888]
 [0.0888 0.1174]
 [0.1174 0.146 ]]
Find the area-weighted mean of specific humidity values that correspond to two-dimensional bins defined by temperature and pressure values.
>>> p, t = cf.read('file2.nc')
>>> print(t)
Field: air_temperature (ncvar%t)
--------------------------------
Data            : air_temperature(latitude(5), longitude(8)) degreesC
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> print(p)
Field: air_pressure (ncvar%p)
-----------------------------
Data            : air_pressure(latitude(5), longitude(8)) hPa
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> t_indices = t.digitize(4)
>>> p_indices = p.digitize(6)
>>> b = q.bin('mean', digitized=[t_indices, p_indices], weights='area')
>>> print(b)
Field: specific_humidity
------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(air_pressure(6), air_temperature(4)) 1
Cell methods    : latitude: longitude: mean
Dimension coords: air_pressure(6) = [966.6225003326126, ..., 1033.6456080043665] hPa
                : air_temperature(4) = [-12.735821567738295, ..., 9.9702610462581] degreesC
>>> print(b.array)
[[     --       --       --  0.011  ]
 [0.131    0.0145   0.0345   0.05052]
 [0.05742  0.01727  0.06392  0.0105 ]
 [     --  0.04516  0.05272  0.10194]
 [0.124    0.024    0.059    0.006  ]
 [     --  0.08971       --       --]]

Percentiles

Percentiles of the data can be computed along any subset of the axes with the percentile method of the field construct.

Find the 20th, 40th, 50th, 60th and 80th percentiles.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
>>> print(q)
Field: specific_humidity
------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
                : latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
>>> print(q.array)
[[0.007 0.034 0.003 0.014 0.018 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [0.023 0.036 0.045 0.062 0.046 0.073 0.006 0.066]
 [0.11  0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 0.057 0.011]
 [0.029 0.059 0.039 0.07  0.058 0.072 0.009 0.017]
 [0.006 0.036 0.019 0.035 0.018 0.037 0.034 0.013]]
>>> p = q.percentile([20, 40, 50, 60, 80])
>>> print(p)
Field: specific_humidity
------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(long_name=Percentile ranks for latitude, longitude dimensions(5), latitude(1), longitude(1)) 1
Dimension coords: time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : long_name=Percentile ranks for latitude, longitude dimensions(5) = [20, ..., 80]
>>> print(p.array)
[[[0.0164]]
 [[0.032 ]]
 [[0.036 ]]
 [[0.0414]]
 [[0.0704]]]
Find the standard deviation of the values above the 80th percentile.
>>> p80 = q.percentile(80)
>>> print(p80)
Field: specific_humidity
------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(1), longitude(1)) 1
Dimension coords: time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
                : latitude(1) = [0.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(1) = [180.0] degrees_east
                : long_name=Percentile ranks for latitude, longitude dimensions(1) = [80]
>>> g = q.where(q<=p80, cf.masked)
>>> print(g.array)
[[  --    --    --    --    --    -- -- --]
 [  --    --    --    --    -- 0.073 -- --]
 [0.11 0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 -- --]
 [  --    --    --    --    -- 0.072 -- --]
 [  --    --    --    --    --    -- -- --]]
>>> g.collapse('standard_deviation', weights=True).data
<CF Data(1, 1): [[0.024609938742357642]] 1>
Find the mean of the values above the 45th percentile along the X axis.
>>> p45 = q.percentile(45, axes='X')
>>> print(p45.array)
[[0.0189 ]
 [0.04515]
 [0.10405]
 [0.04185]
 [0.02125]]
>>> g = q.where(q<=p45, cf.masked)
>>> print(g.array)
[[  -- 0.034    --    --    -- 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [  --    --    -- 0.062 0.046 0.073    -- 0.066]
 [0.11 0.131 0.124 0.146    --    --    --    --]
 [  -- 0.059    -- 0.07  0.058 0.072    --    --]
 [  -- 0.036    -- 0.035   --  0.037 0.034    --]]
>>> print(g.collapse('X: mean', weights=True).array)
[[0.031  ]
 [0.06175]
 [0.12775]
 [0.06475]
 [0.0355 ]]
Find the histogram bin boundaries associated with given percentiles, and digitize the data based on these bins.
>>> bins = q.percentile([0, 10, 50, 90, 100], squeeze=True)
>>> print(bins.array)
[0.003  0.0088 0.036  0.1037 0.146 ]
>>> i = q.digitize(bins, closed_ends=True)
>>> print(i.array)
[[0 1 0 1 1 2 1 1]
 [1 2 2 2 2 2 0 2]
 [3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1]
 [1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1]
 [0 2 1 1 1 2 1 1]]

Regridding

Regridding, also called remapping or interpolation, is the process of changing the domain of a field construct whilst preserving the qualities of the original data.

The field construct has two regridding methods: regrids for regridding data between domains with spherical coordinate systems; and regridc for regridding data between domains with Cartesian coordinate systems. The interpolation is carried by out using the esmpy package (formerly called ESMF), a Python interface to the Earth System Modeling Framework regridding utility.

As with statistical collapses, regridding may be applied over a subset of the domain axes, and the domain axis constructs and coordinate constructs for the non-regridded dimensions remain the same.

Domain ancillary constructs whose data spans the regridding dimensions are also regridded, but field ancillary constructs whose data spans the regridding dimensions are removed from the regridded field construct.

Regridding methods

The following regridding methods are available (in this table, “source” and “destination” refer to the domain of the field construct being regridded, and the domain that it is being regridded to, respectively):

Method

Description

Linear

Linear interpolation in the number of dimensions being regridded.

For two dimensional regridding this is bilinear interpolation, and for three dimensional regridding this is trilinear interpolation.

First-order conservative

First order conservative interpolation.

Preserve the area integral of the data across the interpolation from source to destination. It uses the proportion of the area of the overlapping source and destination cells to determine appropriate weights.

In particular, the weight of a source cell is the ratio of the area of intersection of the source and destination cells to the area of the whole destination cell.

It does not account for the field gradient across the source cell, unlike the second-order conservative method.

Second-order conservative

Second-order conservative interpolation.

As with first order (see above), preserves the area integral of the field between source and destination using a weighted sum, with weights based on the proportionate area of intersection.

Unlike first-order, the second-order method incorporates further terms to take into consideration the gradient of the field across the source cell, thereby typically producing a smoother result of higher accuracy.

Higher-order patch recovery

Higher-order patch recovery interpolation.

A second degree polynomial regridding method, which uses a least squares algorithm to calculate the polynomial.

This method gives better derivatives in the resulting destination data than the linear method.

Nearest neighbour

Nearest neighbour interpolation for which each destination point is mapped to the closest source point, or vice versa.

Useful for extrapolation of categorical data.

When mapping destination to source points, a given destination point may receive input from multiple source points, but no source point will map to more than one destination point.

When mapping source to destination points, a given destination receives input at most one source point.

Spherical regridding

Regridding from and to spherical coordinate systems using the regrids method is available for the ‘X’, ‘Y’ and (if requested) ‘Z’ axes simultaneously. All other axes are unchanged. The calculation of the regridding weights is based on areas and distances on the surface of the sphere, rather than in Euclidean space.

Spherical regridding can occur between source and destination grids that comprise any pairing of Latitude-longitude, Rotated latitude-longitude, Plane projection, Tripolar, UGRID mesh, and DSG feature type coordinate systems.

The most convenient usage is when the destination domain exists in another field construct. In this case, all you need to specify is the field construct having the desired destination domain and the regridding method to use:

Regrid the field construct a conservatively onto a grid contained in field construct b.
>>> a = cf.read('air_temperature.nc')[0]
>>> b = cf.read('precipitation_flux.nc')[0]
>>> print(a)
Field: air_temperature (ncvar%tas)
----------------------------------
Data            : air_temperature(time(2), latitude(73), longitude(96)) K
Cell methods    : time(2): mean
Dimension coords: time(2) = [1860-01-16 00:00:00, 1860-02-16 00:00:00] 360_day
                : latitude(73) = [-90.0, ..., 90.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(96) = [0.0, ..., 356.25] degrees_east
                : height(1) = [2.0] m
>>> print(b)
Field: precipitation_flux (ncvar%tas)
-------------------------------------
Data            : precipitation_flux(time(1), latitude(64), longitude(128)) kg m-2 day-1
Cell methods    : time(1): mean (interval: 1.0 month)
Dimension coords: time(1) = [0450-11-16 00:00:00] noleap
                : latitude(64) = [-87.86380004882812, ..., 87.86380004882812] degrees_north
                : longitude(128) = [0.0, ..., 357.1875] degrees_east
                : height(1) = [2.0] m
>>> c = a.regrids(b, method='conservative')
>>> print(c)
Field: air_temperature (ncvar%tas)
----------------------------------
Data            : air_temperature(time(2), latitude(64), longitude(128)) K
Cell methods    : time(2): mean
Dimension coords: time(2) = [1860-01-16 00:00:00, 1860-02-16 00:00:00] 360_day
                : latitude(64) = [-87.86380004882812, ..., 87.86380004882812] degrees_north
                : longitude(128) = [0.0, ..., 357.1875] degrees_east
                : height(1) = [2.0] m

It is generally not necessary to specify which are the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ axes in the domains of both the source and destination field constructs, since they will be automatically identified by their metadata. However, in cases when this is not possible (such as for tripolar domains) the src_axes or dst_axes keywords of the regrids method can be used.

It may be that the required destination domain does not exist in a field construct. In this case, the latitude and longitudes of the destination domain may be defined solely by dimension or auxiliary coordinate constructs.

Regrid ‘a’ onto two-dimensional (curvilinear) dimension coordinates latitude and longitude.
>>> import numpy
>>> domain = cf.Domain.create_regular((0, 360, 5.0), (-90, 90, 2.5))
>>> c = a.regrids(domain, method='linear')
Field: air_temperature (ncvar%tas)
----------------------------------
Data            : air_temperature(time(2), latitude(72), longitude(72)) K
Cell methods    : time(2): mean
Dimension coords: time(2) = [1860-01-16 00:00:00, 1860-02-16 00:00:00] 360_day
                : latitude(72) = [-88.75, ..., 88.75] degrees_north
                : longitude(72) = [2.5, ..., 357.5] degrees_east
                : height(1) = [2.0] m

A destination domain defined by two-dimensional (curvilinear) latitude and longitude auxiliary coordinate constructs can also be specified in a similar manner.

An axis is cyclic if cells at both of its ends are actually geographically adjacent. In spherical regridding, only the ‘X’ axis has the potential for being cyclic. For example, a longitude cell spanning 359 to 360 degrees east is proximate to the cell spanning 0 to 1 degrees east.

When a cyclic dimension can not be automatically detected, such as when its dimension coordinate construct does not have bounds, cyclicity may be set with the src_cyclic or dst_cyclic keywords of the regrids method.

To find out whether a dimension is cyclic use the iscyclic method of the field construct, or to manually set its cyclicity use the cyclic method. If the destination domain has been defined by a dictionary of dimension coordinate constructs, then cyclicity can be registered by setting a period of cyclicity with the period method of the dimension coordinate construct.

Cartesian regridding

Cartesian regridding with the regridc method is very similar to spherical regridding, except regridding dimensions are not restricted to the horizontal plane, the source and destination domains are assumed to be Euclidian spaces for the purpose of calculating regridding weights, and all dimensions are assumed to be non-cyclic by default.

Cartesian regridding can be done in up to three dimensions. It is often used for regridding along the time dimension. A plane projection coordinate system can be regridded with Cartesian regridding, which will produce similar results to using using spherical regridding.

Regrid the time axis ‘T’ of field ‘a’ with the linear method onto the grid specified in the dimension coordinate time.
>>> time = cf.DimensionCoordinate.create_regular(
...      (0.5, 60.5, 1),
...      units=cf.Units("days since 1860-01-01", calendar="360_day"),
...      standard_name="time",
...      )
>>> time
<CF DimensionCoordinate: time(60) days since 1860-01-01 360_day>
>>> c = a.regridc([time], axes='T', method='linear')
Field: air_temperature (ncvar%tas)
----------------------------------
Data            : air_temperature(time(60), latitude(73), longitude(96)) K
Cell methods    : time(60): mean
Dimension coords: time(60) = [1860-01-02 00:00:00, ..., 1860-03-01 00:00:00] 360_day
                : latitude(73) = [-90.0, ..., 90.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(96) = [0.0, ..., 356.25] degrees_east
                : height(1) = [2.0] m

Cartesian regridding to the dimension of another field construct is also possible, similarly to spherical regridding.

Regridding masked data

The data mask of the source field construct is taken into account, such that the regridded data will be masked in regions where the source data is masked. By default the mask of the destination field construct is not used, but can be taken into account by setting use_dst_mask keyword to the regrids or regridc methods. For example, this is useful when part of the destination domain is not being used (such as the land portion of an ocean grid).

For conservative regridding, masking is done on cells. Masking a destination cell means that the cell won’t participate in the regridding. For all other regridding methods, masking is done on points. For these methods, masking a destination point means that the point will not participate in the regridding.

Vertical regridding

Vertical regridding may be incorporated into either spherical or Cartesian regridding, but in both cases the vertical coordinates need to be explicitly identified, and whether or not to calculate the regridding weights according to the natural logarithm of the vertical coordinate values stated.

Regrid a field construct from one set of pressure levels to another.
>>> v = cf.read('vertical.nc')[0]
>>> print(v)
Field: eastward_wind (ncvar%ua)
-------------------------------
Data            : eastward_wind(time(3), air_pressure(5), grid_latitude(11), grid_longitude(10)) m s-1
Cell methods    : time(3): mean
Dimension coords: time(3) = [1979-05-01 12:00:00, 1979-05-02 12:00:00, 1979-05-03 12:00:00] gregorian
                : air_pressure(5) = [850.0, ..., 50.0] hPa
                : grid_latitude(11) = [23.32, ..., 18.92] degrees
                : grid_longitude(10) = [-20.54, ..., -16.58] degrees
Auxiliary coords: latitude(grid_latitude(11), grid_longitude(10)) = [[67.12, ..., 66.07]] degrees_north
                : longitude(grid_latitude(11), grid_longitude(10)) = [[-45.98, ..., -31.73]] degrees_east
Coord references: grid_mapping_name:rotated_latitude_longitude
>>> new_z = cf.DimensionCoordinate(data=cf.Data([800, 705, 632, 510, 320.], 'hPa'))
>>> new_v = v.regridc([new_z], axes='Z', method='linear', z='Z', ln_z=True)
>>> print(new_v)
Field: eastward_wind (ncvar%ua)
-------------------------------
Data            : eastward_wind(time(3), Z(5), grid_latitude(11), grid_longitude(10)) m s-1
Cell methods    : time(3): mean
Dimension coords: time(3) = [1979-05-01 12:00:00, 1979-05-02 12:00:00, 1979-05-03 12:00:00] gregorian
                : Z(5) = [800.0, ..., 320.0] hPa
                : grid_latitude(11) = [23.32, ..., 18.92] degrees
                : grid_longitude(10) = [-20.54, ..., -16.58] degrees
Auxiliary coords: latitude(grid_latitude(11), grid_longitude(10)) = [[67.12, ..., 66.07]] degrees_north
                : longitude(grid_latitude(11), grid_longitude(10)) = [[-45.98, ..., -31.73]] degrees_east
Coord references: grid_mapping_name:rotated_latitude_longitude

Mathematical operations

Binary arithmetical operations

A field construct may be arithmetically combined with another field construct, or any other object that is broadcastable to its data. See the comprehensive list of available binary operations.

When combining with another field construct, its data is actually combined, but only after being transformed so that it is broadcastable to the first field construct’s data. This is done by using the metadata constructs of the two field constructs to create a mapping of physically compatible dimensions between the fields, and then manipulating the dimensions of the other field construct’s data to ensure that they are broadcastable.

In any case, a field construct may appear as the left or right operand, and augmented assignments are possible.

Automatic units conversions are also carried out between operands during operations, and if one operand has no units then the units of the other are assumed.

Apply some binary arithmetic operations to combine the data for a pair of field constructs.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
>>> t.data.stats()
{'min': <CF Data(): 260.0 K>,
 'mean': <CF Data(): 269.9244444444445 K>,
 'max': <CF Data(): 280.0 K>,
 'range': <CF Data(): 20.0 K>,
 'mid_range': <CF Data(): 270.0 K>,
 'standard_deviation': <CF Data(): 5.942452002538104 K>,
 'sample_size': 90}
>>> x = t + t
>>> x
<CF Field: air_temperature(atmosphere_hybrid_height_coordinate(1), grid_latitude(10), grid_longitude(9)) K>
>>> x.min()
<CF Data(): 520.0 K>
>>> (t - 2).min()
<CF Data(): 258.0 K>
>>> (2 + t).min()
<CF Data(): 262.0 K>
>>> (t * list(range(9))).min()
<CF Data(): 0.0 K>
>>> (t + cf.Data(numpy.arange(20, 29), '0.1 K')).min()
<CF Data(): 262.6 K>
Apply a binary addition operation to apply an offset to the units and permute the axes of air temperature data on a field construct. Note the use of augmented assignment to apply an offset to the units.
>>> u = t.copy()
>>> u.transpose(inplace=True)
>>> u.Units -= 273.15
>>> u[0]
<CF Field: air_temperature(grid_longitude(1), grid_latitude(10), atmosphere_hybrid_height_coordinate(1)) K @ 273.15>
>>> t + u[0]
<CF Field: air_temperature(atmosphere_hybrid_height_coordinate(1), grid_latitude(10), grid_longitude(9)) K>

If the physical nature of the result differs from both operands, then the “standard_name” and “long_name” properties are removed. This is the case if the units of the result differ from both operands, or if they have different standard names.

Applying a binary operation where the resultant field construct has a different physical nature to the two operands. Note the removal of the ‘standard_name’ property to account for this.
>>> t.identities()
['air_temperature',
 'Conventions=CF-1.7',
 'project=research',
 'units=K',
 'standard_name=air_temperature',
 'ncvar%ta']
>>> u = t * cf.Data(10, 'm s-1')
>>> u.identities()
['Conventions=CF-1.7',
 'project=research',
 'units=m.s-1.K',
 'ncvar%ta']

The domain metadata constructs of the result of a successful arithmetical operation between two field constructs are unambiguously well defined: The domain metadata constructs of the result of a successful operation are copied from the left hand side (LHS) operand, except when a coordinate construct in the LHS operand has size 1 and the corresponding coordinate construct in right hand side (RHS) field construct operand has size greater than 1. In this case the coordinate construct from the RHS operand is used in the result, to match up with the data broadcasting that will have occurred during the operation.

In circumstances when domain metadata constructs in the result can not be inferred unambiguously then an exception will be raised. For example, this will be the case if both operands are field constructs with corresponding coordinate constructs of size greater than 1 and with different coordinate values. In such circumstances, the field constructs’ data instances may be operated on directly, bypassing any checks on the metadata. See Operating on the field constructs’ data for more details. (This will be made easier in a future release with a new function for combining such field constructs.)

Bounds

For binary operations involving constructs that have bounds, the result of binary operation will, by default, only have bounds if both operands have bounds; and the bounds of the result will be the result of the same binary operation on bounds objects. This behaviour may modified by the cf.bounds_combination_mode function.

Demonstrate how bounds are treated in binary operations.
>>> x = q.dimension_coordinate('X')
>>> x.dump()
Dimension coordinate: longitude
    standard_name = 'longitude'
    units = 'degrees_east'
    Data(longitude(8)) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
    Bounds:units = 'degrees_east'
    Bounds:Data(longitude(8), 2) = [[0.0, ..., 360.0]]
>>> (x + x).dump()
Dimension coordinate: longitude
    standard_name = 'longitude'
    units = 'degrees_east'
    Data(8) = [45.0, ..., 675.0] degrees_east
    Bounds:units = 'degrees_east'
    Bounds:Data(8, 2) = [[0.0, ..., 720.0]] degrees_east
>>> (x + 50).dump()
Dimension coordinate: longitude
    standard_name = 'longitude'
    units = 'degrees_east'
    Data(8) = [72.5, ..., 387.5] degrees_east
>>> old = cf.bounds_combination_mode('OR')
>>> (x + 50).dump()
Dimension coordinate: longitude
    standard_name = 'longitude'
    units = 'degrees_east'
    Data(8) = [72.5, ..., 387.5] degrees_east
    Bounds:units = 'degrees_east'
    Bounds:Data(8, 2) = [[50.0, ..., 410.0]] degrees_east
>>> x2 = x.copy()
>>> x2.del_bounds()
<CF Bounds: longitude(8, 2) degrees_east>
>>> (x2 + x).dump()
Dimension coordinate: longitude
    standard_name = 'longitude'
    units = 'degrees_east'
    Data(8) = [45.0, ..., 675.0] degrees_east
    Bounds:units = 'degrees_east'
    Bounds:Data(8, 2) = [[22.5, ..., 697.5]] degrees_east
>>> cf.bounds_combination_mode(old)
'OR'

The setting of the bounds combination mode may also be set in a context manager:

Set the bounds combination mode in a context manager.
>>> with cf.bounds_combination_mode('OR'):
...    (x2 + x).dump()
...
Dimension coordinate: longitude
    standard_name = 'longitude'
    units = 'degrees_east'
    Data(8) = [45.0, ..., 675.0] degrees_east
    Bounds:units = 'degrees_east'
    Bounds:Data(8, 2) = [[22.5, ..., 697.5]] degrees_east

Warning

Care must be taken when combining a construct with a numpy array or a Data instance, due to the ways in which both of these objects allow themselves to be combined with other types:

  • If the construct is on the left hand side (LHS) of the operation then, as expected, a construct is returned whose data is the combination of the original construct’s data and the numpy array or Data instance on the right hand side (RHS).

  • If, however, the construct is on the RHS then a numpy array or Data instance (which ever type is on the LHS) is returned, containing the same data as in the first case.

A field construct will not be returned if the left hand operand is a numpy array or a ‘Data’ instance.
>>> import numpy
>>> t = cf.example_field(0)
>>> a = numpy.array(1000)
>>> type(t * a)
cf.field.Field
>>> type(a + t)
numpy.ndarray
>>> b = numpy.random.randn(t.size).reshape(t.shape)
>>> type(t * b)
cf.field.Field
>>> type(b * t)
numpy.ndarray
>>> type(t - cf.Data(b))
cf.field.Field
>>> type(cf.Data(b) * t)
cf.data.data.Data

Unary operations

Python unary operators also work on the field construct’s data, returning a new field construct with modified data values. See the comprehensive list of available unary operations.

Apply some unary operations to a field construct’s data.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
>>> print(q.array)
[[0.007 0.034 0.003 0.014 0.018 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [0.023 0.036 0.045 0.062 0.046 0.073 0.006 0.066]
 [0.11  0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 0.057 0.011]
 [0.029 0.059 0.039 0.07  0.058 0.072 0.009 0.017]
 [0.006 0.036 0.019 0.035 0.018 0.037 0.034 0.013]]
>>> print(-q.array)
[[-0.007 -0.034 -0.003 -0.014 -0.018 -0.037 -0.024 -0.029]
 [-0.023 -0.036 -0.045 -0.062 -0.046 -0.073 -0.006 -0.066]
 [-0.11  -0.131 -0.124 -0.146 -0.087 -0.103 -0.057 -0.011]
 [-0.029 -0.059 -0.039 -0.07  -0.058 -0.072 -0.009 -0.017]
 [-0.006 -0.036 -0.019 -0.035 -0.018 -0.037 -0.034 -0.013]]
>>> print(abs(-q).array)
[[0.007 0.034 0.003 0.014 0.018 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [0.023 0.036 0.045 0.062 0.046 0.073 0.006 0.066]
 [0.11  0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 0.057 0.011]
 [0.029 0.059 0.039 0.07  0.058 0.072 0.009 0.017]
 [0.006 0.036 0.019 0.035 0.018 0.037 0.034 0.013]]

Relational operations

A field construct may compared with another field construct, or any other object that is broadcastable to its data. See the comprehensive list of available relational operations. The result is a field construct with Boolean data values.

When comparing with another field construct, its data is actually combined, but only after being transformed so that it is broadcastable to the first field construct’s data. This is done by using the metadata constructs of the two field constructs to create a mapping of physically compatible dimensions between the fields, and then manipulating the dimensions of the other field construct’s data to ensure that they are broadcastable.

In any case, a field construct may appear as the left or right operand.

Automatic units conversions are also carried out between operands during operations, and if one operand has no units then the units of the other are assumed.

Produce field constructs of Boolean data encapsulating the nature of some relations between a field construct and another operand.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
>>> print(q.array)
[[0.007 0.034 0.003 0.014 0.018 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [0.023 0.036 0.045 0.062 0.046 0.073 0.006 0.066]
 [0.11  0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 0.057 0.011]
 [0.029 0.059 0.039 0.07  0.058 0.072 0.009 0.017]
 [0.006 0.036 0.019 0.035 0.018 0.037 0.034 0.013]]
>>> print((q == q).array)
[[ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]]
>>> print((q < 0.05).array)
[[ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]
 [ True  True  True False  True False  True False]
 [False False False False False False False  True]
 [ True False  True False False False  True  True]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]]
>>> print((q >= q[0]).array)
[[ True  True  True  True  True  True  True  True]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True False  True]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True  True False]
 [ True  True  True  True  True  True False False]
 [False  True  True  True  True  True  True False]]

The “standard_name” and “long_name” properties are removed from the result, which also has no units.

A field construct of Boolean data created from a relational operation on a field construct and another operand will be stripped of its standard_name property (and its long_name property if it has been set, unlike for ‘q’ here).
>>> q.identities()
['specific_humidity',
 'Conventions=CF-1.7',
 'project=research',
 'units=1',
 'standard_name=specific_humidity',
 'ncvar%q']
>>> r = q > q.mean()
>>> r.identities()
['Conventions=CF-1.7',
 'project=research',
 'units=',
 'ncvar%q']

The domain metadata constructs of the result of a successful relational operation between two field constructs are unambiguously well defined: The domain metadata constructs of the result of a successful operation are copied from the left hand side (LHS) operand, except when a coordinate construct in the LHS operand has size 1 and the corresponding coordinate construct in right hand side (RHS) field construct operand has size greater than 1. In this case the coordinate construct from the RHS operand is used in the result, to match up with the data broadcasting that will have occurred during the operation.

In circumstances when domain metadata constructs in the result can not be inferred unambiguously then an exception will be raised. For example, this will be the case if both operands are field constructs with corresponding coordinate constructs of size greater than 1 and with different coordinate values. In such circumstances, the field constructs’ data instances may be operated on directly, bypassing any checks on the metadata. See Operating on the field constructs’ data for more details. (This will be made easier in a future release with a new function for combining such field constructs.)

Arithmetical and relational operations with insufficient metadata

When both operands of a binary arithmetical or relational operation are field constructs then the creation of the mapping of physically compatible dimensions relies on there being sufficient metadata. By default, the mapping relies on their being “strict” identities for the metadata constructs with multi-valued data. The strict identity is restricted standard_name property (or id attribute), and may be returned by the identity method of a construct:

Find the “strict” identity of a construct.
>>> y = q.coordinate('Y')
>>> y.identity(strict=True)
'latitude'
>>> del y.standard_name
>>> y.identity(strict=True)
''

If there is insufficient metadata to create a mapping of physically compatible dimensions, then there are various techniques that allow the operation to proceed:

  • Option 1: The operation may applied to the field constructs’ data instances instead. See Operating on the field constructs’ data for more details.

  • Option 2: If the mapping is not possible due to the absence of standard_name properties (or id attributes) on metadata constructs that are known to correspond, then setting “relaxed identities” with the cf.relaxed_identities function may help. Setting relaxed identities to True allows the long_name property and netCDF variable name (see the netCDF interface), to also be considered when identifying constructs.

  • Option 3: Add more metadata to the field and metadata constructs.

Operating on the field constructs’ data

Binary arithmetical and relational operations between may also be carried out on their data instances, thereby bypassing any reference to, or checks on, the metadata constructs. This can be useful if there insufficient metadata for determining if the two field constructs are compatible; or if the domain metadata constructs of the result can not be unambiguously defined.

In such cases the data instances may be operated on instead and the result then inserted into one of the field constructs, either with the set_data method of the field construct, or with indexed assignment. The former technique is faster and more memory efficient, but the latter technique allows broadcasting. Alternatively, for augmented assignments, the field construct data may be changed in-place.

It is up to the user to ensure that the data instances are consistent in terms of size 1 dimensions (to satisfy the numpy broadcasting rules), dimension order and dimension direction, and that the resulting data is compatible with the metadata of the field construct which will contain it. Automatic units conversions are, however, still accounted for when combining the data instances.

Operate on the data and use ‘set_data’ to put the resulting data into the new field construct.
>>> t.min()
<CF Data(): 260.0 K>
>>> u = t.copy()
>>> new_data = t.data - t.data
>>> u.set_data(new_data)
>>> u
<CF Field: air_temperature(atmosphere_hybrid_height_coordinate(1), grid_latitude(10), grid_longitude(9)) K>
>>> u.min()
<CF Data(): 0.0 K>
Update the data with indexed assignment
 >>> u[...] = new_data
 >>> u.min()
 <CF Data(): 0.0 K>
An example of augmented assignment involving the data of two field constructs.
>>> t.data -= t.data
>>> t.min()
<CF Data(): 0.0 K>

Trigonometrical and hyperbolic functions

The field construct and metadata constructs have methods to apply trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, and their inverses, element-wise to the data. These preserve the metadata but change the construct’s units.

The field construct and metadata constructs support the following trigonometrical methods:

Method

Description

arccos

Take the inverse trigonometric cosine of the data element-wise.

arcsin

Take the inverse trigonometric sine of the data element-wise.

arctan

Take the inverse trigonometric tangent of the data element-wise.

cos

Take the trigonometric cosine of the data element-wise.

sin

Take the trigonometric sine of the data element-wise.

tan

Take the trigonometric tangent of the data element-wise.

The field construct and metadata constructs also support the following hyperbolic methods:

Method

Description

arccosh

Take the inverse hyperbolic cosine of the data element-wise.

arcsinh

Take the inverse hyperbolic sine of the data element-wise.

arctanh

Take the inverse hyperbolic tangent of the data element-wise.

cosh

Take the hyperbolic cosine of the data element-wise.

sinh

Take the hyperbolic sine of the data element-wise.

tanh

Take the hyperbolic tangent of the data element-wise.

Find the sine of each latitude coordinate value.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
>>> lat = q.dimension_coordinate('latitude')
>>> lat.data
<CF Data(5): [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north>
>>> sin_lat = lat.sin()
>>> sin_lat.data
<CF Data(5): [-0.9659258262890683, ..., 0.9659258262890683] 1>

The “standard_name” and “long_name” properties are removed from the result.

Note that a number of the inverse methods have mathematically restricted domains (see also here) and therefore may return “invalid” values (nan or inf). When applying these methods to constructs with masked data, you may prefer to output masked values instead of invalid ones. In this case, you can use masked_invalid to do the conversion afterwards:

Take the `arctanh` of some masked data and then transform resultant invalid values into masked data values.
>>> d = cf.Data([2, 1.5, 1, 0.5, 0], mask=[1, 0, 0, 0, 1])
>>> e = d.arctanh()
>>> print(e.array)
[-- nan inf 0.5493061443340548 --]
>>> e.masked_invalid(inplace=True)
>>> print(e.array)
[-- -- -- 0.5493061443340548 --]

Exponential and logarithmic functions

The field construct and metadata constructs have exp and log methods for applying exponential and logarithmic functions respectively element-wise to the data, preserving the metadata but changing the construct’s units where required.

Find the logarithms and exponentials of field constructs.
>>> q
<CF Field: specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1>
>>> q.log()
<CF Field: specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) ln(re 1)>
>>> q.exp()
<CF Field: specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1>
>>> t
<CF Field: air_temperature(atmosphere_hybrid_height_coordinate(1), grid_latitude(10), grid_longitude(9)) K>
>>> t.log(base=10)
<CF Field: air_temperature(atmosphere_hybrid_height_coordinate(1), grid_latitude(10), grid_longitude(9)) lg(re 1 K)>
>>> t.exp()  # Raises Exception
ValueError: Can't take exponential of dimensional quantities: <Units: K>

The “standard_name” and “long_name” properties are removed from the result.

Rounding and truncation

The field construct and metadata constructs the following methods to round and truncate their data:

Method

Description

ceil

The ceiling of the data, element-wise.

clip

Limit the values in the data.

floor

Floor the data array, element-wise.

rint

Round the data to the nearest integer, element-wise.

round

Round the data to the given number of decimals.

trunc

Truncate the data, element-wise.

Moving windows

Moving window calculations along an axis may be created with the moving_window method of the field construct.

Moving mean, sum, and integral calculations are possible.

By default moving means are unweighted, but weights based on the axis cell sizes (or custom weights) may applied to the calculation.

Calculate a 3-point weighted mean of the ‘X’ axis. Since the the ‘X’ axis is cyclic, the mean wraps by default.
>>> q, t = cf.read('file.nc')
>>> print(q)
Field: specific_humidity (ncvar%q)
----------------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> print(q.array)
[[0.007 0.034 0.003 0.014 0.018 0.037 0.024 0.029]
 [0.023 0.036 0.045 0.062 0.046 0.073 0.006 0.066]
 [0.11  0.131 0.124 0.146 0.087 0.103 0.057 0.011]
 [0.029 0.059 0.039 0.07  0.058 0.072 0.009 0.017]
 [0.006 0.036 0.019 0.035 0.018 0.037 0.034 0.013]]
>>> print(q.coordinate('X').bounds.array)
[[  0.  45.]
 [ 45.  90.]
 [ 90. 135.]
 [135. 180.]
 [180. 225.]
 [225. 270.]
 [270. 315.]
 [315. 360.]]
>>> q.iscyclic('X')
True
>>> g = q.moving_window('mean', 3, axis='X', weights=True)
>>> print(g)
Field: specific_humidity (ncvar%q)
----------------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1
Cell methods    : area: mean longitude(8): mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> print(g.array)
[[0.02333 0.01467 0.017   0.01167 0.023   0.02633 0.03    0.02   ]
 [0.04167 0.03467 0.04767 0.051   0.06033 0.04167 0.04833 0.03167]
 [0.084   0.12167 0.13367 0.119   0.112   0.08233 0.057   0.05933]
 [0.035   0.04233 0.056   0.05567 0.06667 0.04633 0.03267 0.01833]
 [0.01833 0.02033 0.03    0.024   0.03    0.02967 0.028   0.01767]]
>>> print(g.coordinate('X').bounds.array)
[[-45.  90.]
 [  0. 135.]
 [ 45. 180.]
 [ 90. 225.]
 [135. 270.]
 [180. 315.]
 [225. 360.]
 [270. 360.]]

Note

The moving_window method can not, in general, be emulated by the convolution_filter method, as the latter i) can not change the window weights as the filter passes through the axis; and ii) does not update the cell method constructs.

Convolution filters

A convolution of the field construct data with a filter along a single domain axis can be calculated, which also updates the bounds of a relevant dimension coordinate construct to account for the width of the filter. Convolution filters are carried with the convolution_filter method of the field construct.

Calculate a 5-point mean of the ‘X’ axis with a non-uniform window function. Since the the ‘X’ axis is cyclic, the convolution wraps by default.
>>> print(q)
Field: specific_humidity (ncvar%q)
----------------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> q.iscyclic('X')
True
>>> r = q.convolution_filter([0.1, 0.15, 0.5, 0.15, 0.1], axis='X')
>>> print(r)
Field: specific_humidity (ncvar%q)
----------------------------------
Data            : specific_humidity(latitude(5), longitude(8)) 1
Cell methods    : area: mean
Dimension coords: latitude(5) = [-75.0, ..., 75.0] degrees_north
                : longitude(8) = [22.5, ..., 337.5] degrees_east
                : time(1) = [2019-01-01 00:00:00]
>>> print(q.dimension_coordinate('X').bounds.array)
[[  0.  45.]
 [ 45.  90.]
 [ 90. 135.]
 [135. 180.]
 [180. 225.]
 [225. 270.]
 [270. 315.]
 [315. 360.]]
>>> print(r.dimension_coordinate('X').bounds.array)
[[-90. 135.]
 [-45. 180.]
 [  0. 225.]
 [ 45. 270.]
 [ 90. 315.]
 [135. 360.]
 [180. 405.]
 [225. 450.]]

The convolution_filter method of the field construct also has options to

  • Specify how the input array is extended when the filter overlaps a border, and

  • Control the placement position of the filter window.

Note that the scipy.signal.windows package has suite of window functions for creating window weights for filtering:

Calculate a 3-point exponential filter of the ‘Y’ axis. Since the ‘Y’ axis is not cyclic, the convolution by default inserts missing data at points for which the filter window extends beyond the array.
>>> from scipy.signal import windows
>>> exponential_window = windows.exponential(3)
>>> print(exponential_window)
[0.36787944 1.         0.36787944]
>>> r = q.convolution_filter(exponential_window, axis='Y')
>>> print(r.array)
[[--      --      --      --      --      --      --      --     ]
 [0.06604 0.0967  0.09172 0.12086 0.08463 0.1245  0.0358  0.08072]
 [0.12913 0.16595 0.1549  0.19456 0.12526 0.15634 0.06252 0.04153]
 [0.07167 0.12044 0.09161 0.13659 0.09663 0.1235  0.04248 0.02583]
 [--      --      --      --      --      --      --      --     ]]

The magnitude of the integral of the filter (i.e. the sum of the window weights defined by the window parameter) affects the convolved values. For example, window weights of [0.2, 0.2 0.2, 0.2, 0.2] will produce a non-weighted 5-point running mean; and window weights of [1, 1, 1, 1, 1] will produce a 5-point running sum. Note that the window weights returned by functions of the scipy.signal.windows package do not necessarily sum to 1.

Note

The moving_window method can not, in general, be emulated by the convolution_filter method, as the latter i) can not change the window weights as the filter passes through the axis; and ii) does not update the cell method constructs.

General first order derivative

The derivative along a dimension of the field construct’s data can be calculated as a centred finite difference with the derivative method. If the axis is cyclic then the derivative wraps around by default, otherwise it may be forced to wrap around; a one-sided difference is calculated at the edges; or missing data is inserted.

Calculate for a field construct’s data the derivative along both the ‘X’ and ‘Y’ axes, where the former (by default) uses missing values in the calculation, but the latter has been told to use a one-sided finite difference at the boundary.
>>> r = q.derivative('X')
>>> r = q.derivative('Y', one_sided_at_boundary=True)

Gradient vector

The horizontal gradient vector of a scalar field may calculated with the grad_xy method when the field has dimension coordinates of X and Y, in either Cartesian (e.g. plane projection) or spherical polar coordinate systems.

The horizontal gradient vector in Cartesian coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla f(x, y) = \left( \frac{\partial f}{\partial x}, \frac{\partial f}{\partial y} \right)\]

The horizontal gradient vector in spherical polar coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla f(\theta, \phi) = \left( \frac{1}{r} \frac{\partial f}{\partial \theta}, \frac{1}{r \sin\theta} \frac{\partial f}{\partial \phi} \right)\]

where r is radial distance to the origin, \(\theta\) is the polar angle with respect to polar axis, and \(\phi\) is the azimuthal angle.

See cf.Field.grad_xy for details and examples.

Laplacian

The horizontal Laplacian of a scalar field may be calculated with the laplacian_xy method when the field has dimension coordinates of X and Y, in either Cartesian (e.g. plane projection) or spherical polar coordinate systems.

The horizontal Laplacian in Cartesian coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla^2 f(x, y) = \frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial x^2} + \frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial y^2}\]

The horizontal Laplacian in spherical polar coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla^2 f(\theta, \phi) = \frac{1}{r^2 \sin\theta} \frac{\partial}{\partial \theta} \left( \sin\theta \frac{\partial f}{\partial \theta} \right) + \frac{1}{r^2 \sin^2\theta} \frac{\partial^2 f}{\partial \phi^2}\]

where r is radial distance to the origin, \(\theta\) is the polar angle with respect to polar axis, and \(\phi\) is the azimuthal angle.

See cf.Field.laplacian_xy for details and examples.

Divergence

The horizontal divergence may be calculated with the cf.div_xy function from orthogonal vector component fields which have dimension coordinates of X and Y, in either Cartesian (e.g. plane projection) or spherical polar coordinate systems.

The horizontal divergence of the \((f_x, f_y)\) vector in Cartesian coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla \cdot (f_{x}(x,y), f_{y}(x,y)) = \frac{\partial f_x}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial f_y}{\partial y}\]

The horizontal divergence of the \((f_\theta, f_\phi)\) vector in spherical polar coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla \cdot (f_\theta(\theta,\phi), f_\phi(\theta,\phi)) = \frac{1}{r \sin\theta} \left( \frac{\partial (f_\theta \sin\theta)}{\partial \theta} + \frac{\partial f_\phi}{\partial \phi} \right)\]

where r is radial distance to the origin, \(\theta\) is the polar angle with respect to polar axis, and \(\phi\) is the azimuthal angle.

See cf.div_xy for details and examples.

Curl

The horizontal curl may be calculated with the cf.curl_xy function from orthogonal vector component fields which have dimension coordinates of X and Y, in either Cartesian (e.g. plane projection) or spherical polar coordinate systems.

Note that the curl of the horizontal wind field is the relative vorticity.

The horizontal curl of the \((f_x, f_y)\) vector in Cartesian coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla \times (f_{x}(x,y), f_{y}(x,y)) = \frac{\partial f_y}{\partial x} - \frac{\partial f_x}{\partial y}\]

The horizontal curl of the \((f_\theta, f_\phi)\) vector in spherical polar coordinates is given by:

\[\nabla \times (f_\theta(\theta,\phi), f_\phi(\theta,\phi)) = \frac{1}{r \sin\theta} \left( \frac{\partial (f_\phi \sin\theta)}{\partial \theta} - \frac{\partial f_\theta}{\partial \phi} \right)\]

where r is radial distance to the origin, \(\theta\) is the polar angle with respect to polar axis, and \(\phi\) is the azimuthal angle.

See cf.curl_xy for details and examples.