NetCDF means Network Common Data Form.
NetCDF is a file format for storing multidimensional scientific data (variables) such as temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed and direction. Each of these variables can be displayed through a dimension (such as time) in ArcGIS by making a layer or table view from the netCDF file.
You cannot add a netCDF file using the Add Data button in ArcGIS applications (ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe). You can use the Make NetCDF Raster Layer, Make NetCDF Feature Layer, and Make NetCDF Table View tools from the Multidimension Tools toolbox to create a raster layer, a feature layer, and a table view, respectively, from a netCDF file. You can also drag a netCDF file from Windows Explorer and drop it in an application.
NetCDF data is displayed in ArcGIS as a raster layer, feature layer, or table. At any given time, only one slice of multidimensional data is visible. You can display a different slice by changing the dimension values on the netCDF tab of the Properties dialog box. You can also use the Select by Dimension tool to do the same.
A netCDF raster or feature layer is displayed with the default symbols. You can modify these symbols in the Layer Properties dialog box.
A netCDF file contains dimensions, variables, and attributes. These components are used together to capture the meaning of data and relations among data fields in an array-oriented dataset. The following figure shows the structure of a netCDF file using the CDL (network Common Data form Language) notation. CDL is the ASCII format used to describe the content of a netCDF file.
Sources:- ArcGIS Desktop Help
