OceanVal validates ocean model output in NetCDF format. Files should be CF-compliant as far as possible — most ocean model output already is, so there should be no compatibility issues.
Not compatible out-of-the-box. If unstructured output can be regridded to a regular grid and saved as CF-compliant NetCDF, OceanVal can use it. FVCOM output is supported via oceanval.fvcom_preprocess.
Both z-level files and files with a varying vertical grid are supported, provided cell thickness is stored in the simulation output.
Files need a consistent, logical naming convention, e.g. YYYY/MM/model_output_YYYYMMDD.nc. OceanVal automatically identifies the naming convention and matches the right files.
At least a single year of model output is required. Time resolution can be daily or monthly.
Gridded observations (e.g. satellite data) should also be in NetCDF format — in a single file or multiple files, which OceanVal will merge. Files must be CF-compliant, which gridded observational products almost always are.
Vertically-resolved files are supported, with depth as a dimension and a consistent vertical grid — the norm for gridded data products.
If you supply a gridded file with only one timestep, OceanVal assumes it represents a climatological annual average.
Time requirements: ideally observational files contain time information — its absence can make it impossible to figure out how to handle the data, and may raise an error.
In-situ observations (e.g. from research cruises or moorings) should be in CSV format. Supplying anything other than the columns below will raise an error, and OceanVal checks that required columns are present.
lon — longitude, decimal degreeslat — latitude, decimal degreesobservation — the observed value, ideally in the same units as the model outputdepth — depth in metres. Required for subsurface validation; if supplied for surface-only validation, only the top 5 m is usedyear, month, day — as much or as little time information as you havesource — a label for the data's provenance, e.g. a cruise or platform ID