getvar compatibility with xarray

[ericksonwx]

Greetings,

I've been attempting to use WRF-Python recently to compute diagnostic variables from WRF output in netCDF4 format. However, as things currently stand, it is not clear how the getvar method can be used with large volumes of WRF output accessed through opening multiple files simultaneously. This results from a two-pronged problem:

• getvar is not currently compatible with xarray; attempting to use them together results in a TypeError. The proposed fix under the FAQs section of the website for using an xarray dataset as input to WRF-Python functions is now deprecated; the attribute in question has been removed from the xarray.Dataset API.
• Using the netCDF4 package to load in a dataset is an alternative option, but it does not currently support concurrent reads of multiple netCDF4 files (only netCDF3/netCDF4 classic)

As such, I wanted to know if there are any planned updates for integrating xarray with WRF-Python. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[erogluorhan]

Hi @nathane1 ,

Thanks very much for reaching out!

We believe Xarray compatibility for WRF efforts is vital, and we'd like to explore things like if we can make getvar() so, or if there is similar WRF capability of other packages/groups in the scientific Python ecosystem that is Xarray-compatible, etc. We are hoping to look into this in the near future and at least come up with some thoughts. Please let us know if you have any thoughts, ideas as well.

[FalseFeint]

Hi @erogluorhan, is there currently a plan in place to implement this? I would find this immensely useful.

[erogluorhan]

Hi @FalseFeint , while we believe there is value in it, we don't have the staff resources to prioritize it for a foreseeable future.