Hosts the NetCDF Explorer MCP Server repository, providing source code access and issue tracking for the server that enables exploration and analysis of NetCDF scientific data files
Distributes the nc-mcp package, allowing installation of the NetCDF Explorer MCP Server for scientific data file analysis and exploration
Provides the testing framework for the NetCDF Explorer MCP Server, enabling verification of file discovery, data extraction, and NetCDF structure parsing functionality
Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@NetCDF Explorer MCP Servershow me the variables in ocean_data.nc"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
NetCDF Explorer MCP Server
A simple and powerful MCP (Message Communication Protocol) server for exploring, analyzing, and interacting with NetCDF format files. Designed to simplify NetCDF data management with intuitive APIs and efficient data handling.
Overview
NetCDF (Network Common Data Form) is a widely used format for storing scientific data. This MCP server provides a streamlined interface to work with NetCDF files, offering essential functionalities to list files, inspect structures, extract data, and analyze variables—all while handling large datasets efficiently through smart sampling.
Related MCP server: NASA MCP Service
Features
📁 File Discovery: List all NetCDF files (
.nc,.cdf,.netcdf,.nc4) in a specified directory.🔍 Structure Inspection: Retrieve detailed metadata of NetCDF files, including dimensions, variables, attributes, and global properties.
📊 Data Extraction: Read variable data with support for flexible slicing (e.g.,
lat: "0:10:2"to extract subsets).🧠 Smart Sampling: Automatically sample large datasets to prevent memory overflow, with configurable element limits.
⏰ Time Series Analysis: Extract temporal data from spatial variables, with optional custom location coordinates.
🔎 Search Functionality: Find variables and attributes by keyword, simplifying navigation in complex files.
📋 Variable Summaries: Generate human-readable summaries of variables, including dimensions, data types, and attributes.
Installation
Prerequisites
Python ≥ 3.13
Install via pip
Install from Source
Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/HanchaoLi/nc-mcp.git cd nc-mcpInstall dependencies (using
uvfor faster dependency management):# Install uv (if not already installed) curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh # Sync dependencies uv sync --all-groups
Quick Start
Start the Server
API Reference
Core Functions
Function | Description | Parameters |
| Lists all NetCDF files in a directory. |
|
| Returns metadata and structure of a NetCDF file (dimensions, variables, attributes). |
|
| Extracts data from a specific variable (supports slicing and sampling). |
|
| Searches variables and attributes for a keyword (case-insensitive). |
|
| Extracts time series data from a spatial variable. |
|
Testing
Run the test suite to verify functionality:
Tests cover:
File discovery logic
NetCDF structure parsing
Data extraction with slicing
Sampling for large datasets
Error handling for invalid inputs
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.
Contributing
Fork the repository
Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')Push to the branch (
git push origin feature/amazing-feature)Open a Pull Request
Links
Homepage: https://github.com/HanchaoLi/nc-mcp
Repository: https://github.com/HanchaoLi/nc-mcp
Issue Tracker: https://github.com/HanchaoLi/nc-mcp/issues
Author
John Li