Check time axis correctness

Time is a key dimension from NetCDF files. Unfortunately, the time axis is often mistaken in files from coupled climate models and leads to flawed studies or unused data. Consequently, these files cannot be used or, even worse, produced erroneous results, due to problems in the time axis description.

Rebuilt and check time axis

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/

Rewrite a wrong time axis

It displays the same information as above but also modify the input files ONLY IF NECESSARY (i.e., depending on the check results):

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ {-w,--write}

Warning

We highly recommend to activate --write after a first dry-checking. This will definitely modify your input files. Be careful to activate --write when you are sure about time errors.

Force time axis rewriting

Anyway, you can force to overwrite time axis in any case:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ {-f,--force}

Check an on going simulation

Warning

This option is only available if you run your simulation within the IPSL libICM framework.

The “on-fly” mode allows to check an incomplete time axis which is by construct inconsistent with the end timestamp of the file name. To disable the corresponding test and check the on going time axis correctness use:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ --on-fly

Default is a deactivated “on-fly” mode. nctxck is able to deduce if your simulation is completed or not. In the last case, the “on-fly” mode is automatically activated. You only need to submit the directory including both your config.card and run.card provided by the libIGCM framework:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ --card /PATH/TO/SUBMISSION/DIRECTORY

Define starting and/or ending time stamps

Default is to consider for each file scanned the starting timestamp as true to rebuilt the theoretical time axis. This allow to to process each file independently. Nevertheless, at least for debugging purpose, it could be useful to submit another reference starting time stamp to make time axis rebuilding free from filename hypothesis:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ --start YYYYMMDD

Note

The submitted time stamp will be completed to 14 digits. We highly recommend to submit a digit as most precise as possible for the first date of the time axis.

Warning

Be careful this new submitted time stamp will be use to rebuilt time axis of all the file scanned.

The same can be done with the ending time stamp even if it is unused in time axis rebuilding:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ --end YYYYMMDD

Note

Both flags can be used independently.

Show wrong time steps

By default nctxck print the first five wrong time steps if exist. This limit can be changed with:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ --limit INTEGER

To print all wrong time steps:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ --limit

Note

This limit is also used to print wrong time boundaries.

Ignore errors

If some errors are known and expected in the diagnostic they can be ignore for a more lightweight output:

$> nctxck /PATH/TO/SCAN/ --ignore-errors CODE,CODE

Note

The allowed error codes corresponds to the following axis status codes (e.g., 001, 002, etc.). One or several error coma-separated codes can be submitted.

Time axis status

Time axis error codes:

  • 000: Time axis seems OK
  • 001: Incorrect time axis over one or several time steps
  • 002: Time units must be unchanged for the same dataset
  • 003: Last date is earlier than end date from filename
  • 004: An instantaneous time axis should not embed time boundaries
  • 005: An averaged time axis should embed time boundaries
  • 006: Incorrect time bounds over one or several time steps
  • 007: Calendar must be unchanged for the same dataset
  • 008: Last date is later than end date of filename