question on multi CDF data sets

[Dongxiao Zhang <dzhang@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi, all,

I am trying to make a single NetCDF data set as a collection of NetCDF
files referred to as "MC"(multi CDF) data sets. Then I need a MC
descriptor. I tried and met the following problems:

In my case, I have model output. They are hundreds of NetCDF
files, with
variables: depth index--KMT(j,i), SSH(l,j,i), U(l,k,j,i), V(l,k,j,i),
TEMP(l,k,j,i) and SALT(l,k,j,i). I made a MC descriptor for 10 files, for
example. In ferret, "show data" command gave the following:
 name     title             I      J      K     L
 T        time             1:1    1:1    1:1   1:1
 KMT      depth index      1:481  1:9    1:1   1:1
 SSH                       1:481  1:9    1:1   1:1--note:it should be 1:10
 U                         1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
 V                         1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
 TEMP                      1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
 SALT                      1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
I could only plot KMT and SSH(only one time level). When I tried to plot
V, for example, ferret showed error:** netCDF error: Variable not found
Then I excluded KMT variable in the NetCDF files, and the "show data"
command gave the following:
 name     title             I      J      K     L
 SSH                       1:481  1:9    1:1   1:1--note:it should be
                                                         1:10, too.
 U                         1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
 V                         1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
 TEMP                      1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
 SALT                      1:481  1:9    1:20  1:10
This time, everything was fine except that I only got one time level of
SSH(I need 10 levels). 

Can somebody explain this to me? It seems to me, MC descriptor can not
work on the variables with different dimentions at the same time. Is it
right? Is there a way to go around? I don't want to exclude the KMT and
SSH out of the files one file by one file because I have hundreds of
files.

Thanks for your attention.

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Dongxiao Zhang
Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, FL 33149
Phone  : (305)361-4806
Fax    : (305)361-4696
Office : MSC Room 309
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