# Import data on unstructured grid

**URL:** <https://vapor.discourse.group/t/import-data-on-unstructured-grid/484>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [March 19, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://vapor.discourse.group/t/import-data-on-unstructured-grid/484 "2026-03-19T20:23:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nforcone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@nforcone](https://vapor.discourse.group/u/nforcone)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://vapor.discourse.group/t/import-data-on-unstructured-grid/484/1 "2026-03-19T20:23:45Z")

</div>

Hello,

I have data stored in a NetCDF file on its native, unstructured model grid. Here is a snapshot of how the data is organized and formatted:

```auto
dimensions:
	ncol = 316010 ;
	time = UNLIMITED ; // (12 currently)
	nbnd = 2 ;
	chars = 8 ;
	lev = 58 ;
	ilev = 59 ;
	trop_pref = 58 ;
	trop_prefi = 59 ;
	trop_cld_lev = 58 ;
variables:
	double lat(ncol) ;
		lat:long_name = "latitude" ;
		lat:units = "degrees_north" ;
	double lon(ncol) ;
		lon:long_name = "longitude" ;
		lon:units = "degrees_east" ;
	double areawt(ncol) ;
		areawt:long_name = "physics column area weight" ;
	double area(ncol) ;
		area:long_name = "physics column areas" ;
	double lev(lev) ;
		lev:long_name = "hybrid level at midpoints (1000*(A+B))" ;
		lev:units = "hPa" ;
		lev:positive = "down" ;
		lev:standard_name = "atmosphere_hybrid_sigma_pressure_coordinate" ;
		lev:formula_terms = "a: hyam b: hybm p0: P0 ps: PS" ;
	double hyam(lev) ;
		hyam:long_name = "hybrid A coefficient at layer midpoints" ;
	double hybm(lev) ;
		hybm:long_name = "hybrid B coefficient at layer midpoints" ;
	double P0 ;
		P0:long_name = "reference pressure" ;
		P0:units = "Pa" ;
	double ilev(ilev) ;
		ilev:long_name = "hybrid level at interfaces (1000*(A+B))" ;
		ilev:units = "hPa" ;
		ilev:positive = "down" ;
		ilev:standard_name = "atmosphere_hybrid_sigma_pressure_coordinate" ;
		ilev:formula_terms = "a: hyai b: hybi p0: P0 ps: PS" ;
	double hyai(ilev) ;
		hyai:long_name = "hybrid A coefficient at layer interfaces" ;
	double hybi(ilev) ;
		hybi:long_name = "hybrid B coefficient at layer interfaces" ;

```

VAPOR is unable to read in the dataset in its current form.

I’m wondering 1) if/how I can modify the formatting so VAPOR can understand the data and 2) if/how VAPOR handles hybrid sigma-pressure coordinates?

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,  
Nick F.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pearse](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/vapor.discourse.group/pearse/32/177_2.png) [@pearse](https://vapor.discourse.group/u/pearse)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://vapor.discourse.group/t/import-data-on-unstructured-grid/484/2 "2026-03-23T19:50:15Z")

</div>

Hi Nick,

VAPOR only supports the unstructured data standards from MPAS and UGRID. We provide some samples [here](https://vapordocumentationwebsite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/downloads/sampleData.html). If you can get your data to match either of those types, you should be able to import them as those types.

VAPOR also does support hybrid sigma-pressure coordinates by internally converting those values to meters above ground level.

Hope that helps and let me know if you have any followup questions.

-Scott