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GrADS is an interactive desktop tool for the analysis and display of earth science data. GrADS is used worldwide andfreely available over the internet.

GrADS implements two data models: a 5-Dimensional gridded data model, and a station data model. In the gridded data model, the dimensions are presumed to be latitude, longitude, level, time, and ensemble. In the station data model, data exist at arbitrary locations in space and time. Four dimensions (longitude, latitude, level, and time) are used as a framework in the station data model to guide which station reports are to be examined. Each data set is placed within a 4- or 5-Dimensional space by the use of a data descriptor file. Both gridded and station data may be described. Gridded data may be non-linearly spaced; gaussian grids and variable resolution ocean model grids are directly supported. The internal data format in a file may be binary, GRIB1, GRIB2, BUFR, NetCDF, HDF4-SDS, or HDF5.