Abstract:
CEDRIC is a mesoscale data analysis program that processes datasets on regular
Cartesian and longitude-latitude grids. The analysis options include many
numerical operations such as algebraic, filtering, and Doppler radar wind
synthesis, both ground-based and airborne, as well as graphical operations.
Several REMAPpings (interpolations) are possible: XYE --> XYZ, LLE--> LLZ, XYE
<--> LLE, and XYZ
... <--> LLZ, where XY (LL) is a regular Cartesian
(longitude-latitude) grid. Z (E) refers to a constant height (elevation angle)
surface. CEDRIC uses its own self-describing, binary format as well as the
network Common Data Format (netCDF) that was developed by NASA and UCAR's
UNIDATA.
Since the CEDRIC pure binary format is portable, very fast, and compact, it is
recommended for general use. However netCDF is an alternative format which is
highly portable, and there are existing software packages that can directly
read this format. Thus, if you want to use CEDRIC files in other software
packages, it might be easier to create them in this format. The pure binary
format can also be used in your own programs, but it would be harder to do.
Input and output to netCDF files is slower and the files are bigger, so it is
not recommended for general, everyday use on the same platform type.
Furthermore, only one volume can be written to netCDF files. With the pure
format, up to 25 volumes can be placed in a single file. Writing out to a file
that already exists with the netCDF format option selected will cause the
contents of the existing file to be overwritten. Since no appending takes place
with netCDF, users should exercise caution to avoid accidentally overwriting
existing datasets.
More Information: http://www.mmm.ucar.edu/pdas/pdas.html
[Summary Extracted from the NCAR/MMM Data Analysis Software Web Page] 
