Example of the header information for a simple netCDF file that complies with the COARDS standard

netcdf gpi.monthly.8696 {
dimensions:
	lat = 32 ;
	lon = 144 ;
	time = UNLIMITED ; // (132 currently)

variables:
	float lat(lat) ;
		lat:title = "Latitude" ;
		lat:units = "degrees_north" ;
		lat:scale_factor = 1.f ;
		lat:add_offset = 0.f ;
	float lon(lon) ;
		lon:title = "Longitude" ;
		lon:units = "degrees_east" ;
		lon:scale_factor = 1.f ;
		lon:add_offset = 0.f ;
	double time(time) ;
		time:title = "Time" ;
		time:units = "days    since 1986- 1- 1  0: 0: 0" ;
		time:scale_factor = 1.f ;
		time:add_offset = 0.f ;
	short data(time, lat, lon) ;
		data:long_name = "mm day-1" ;
		data:add_offset = 0.f ;
		data:scale_factor = 1.f ;
		data:missing_value = 32767s ;
		data:units = "mm day-1" ;
}