NumericalEarth · simone-silvestri · Apr 17, 2026 · Apr 17, 2026 · Apr 17, 2026 · Apr 17, 2026
diff --git a/Project.toml b/Project.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name = "NumericalEarth"
 uuid = "904d977b-046a-4731-8b86-9235c0d1ef02"
 license = "MIT"
-version = "0.3.0"
+version = "0.3.1"
 authors = ["NumericalEarth contributors"]
 
 [deps]

diff --git a/examples/generate_surface_fluxes.jl b/examples/generate_surface_fluxes.jl
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ save("ECCO_continents.png", fig)
 # - downwelling longwave radiation
 #
 # We load in memory only the first two time indices, corresponding to January 1st
-# (at 00:00 AM and 03:00 AM), by using `JRA55NetCDFBackend(2)`.
+# (at 00:00 AM and 03:00 AM), by using `time_indices_in_memory = 2`.
 
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(; backend = JRA55NetCDFBackend(2))
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(; time_indices_in_memory = 2)
 ocean = ocean_simulation(grid, closure=nothing)
 
 # Now that we have an atmosphere and ocean, we `set!` the ocean temperature and salinity

diff --git a/examples/inspect_JRA55_data.jl b/examples/inspect_JRA55_data.jl
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@ using Oceananigans
 using Oceananigans.Units
 using Printf
 
-Qswt = NumericalEarth.JRA55.JRA55FieldTimeSeries(:downwelling_shortwave_radiation)
-rht  = NumericalEarth.JRA55.JRA55FieldTimeSeries(:relative_humidity)
+using NumericalEarth.DataWrangling: Metadata
+using NumericalEarth.JRA55: RepeatYearJRA55
+
+Qswt = FieldTimeSeries(Metadata(:downwelling_shortwave_radiation; dataset=RepeatYearJRA55()); time_indices_in_memory=8)
+rht  = FieldTimeSeries(Metadata(:specific_humidity;               dataset=RepeatYearJRA55()); time_indices_in_memory=8)
 
 function lonlat2xyz(lons::AbstractVector, lats::AbstractVector)
     x = [cosd(lat) * cosd(lon) for lon in lons, lat in lats]

diff --git a/examples/meridional_heat_transport_ecco.jl b/examples/meridional_heat_transport_ecco.jl
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ set!(ocean.model, T=ecco_temperature, S=ecco_salinity)
 set!(sea_ice.model, h=ecco_sea_ice_thickness, ℵ=ecco_sea_ice_concentration)
 
 radiation  = Radiation(arch)
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; backend=JRA55NetCDFBackend(80),
-                                       include_rivers_and_icebergs = false)
-esm = OceanSeaIceModel(ocean, sea_ice; atmosphere, radiation)
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; time_indices_in_memory = 80)
+land       = JRA55PrescribedLand(arch; time_indices_in_memory = 80)
+esm = OceanSeaIceModel(ocean, sea_ice; atmosphere, land, radiation)
 
 simulation = Simulation(esm; Δt=20minutes, stop_time=5*365days)
 

diff --git a/examples/near_global_ocean_simulation.jl b/examples/near_global_ocean_simulation.jl
@@ -102,11 +102,10 @@ radiation = Radiation(arch)
 # The JRA55 dataset provides atmospheric data such as temperature, humidity, and winds
 # to calculate turbulent fluxes using bulk formulae, see [`InterfaceComputations`](@ref NumericalEarth.EarthSystemModels.InterfaceComputations).
 # The number of snapshots that are loaded into memory is determined by
-# the `backend`. Here, we load 41 snapshots at a time into memory.
+# `time_indices_in_memory`. Here, we load 41 snapshots at a time into memory.
 
-jra55_backend = JRA55NetCDFBackend(41)
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; backend=jra55_backend)
-land       = JRA55PrescribedLand(arch; backend=jra55_backend)
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; time_indices_in_memory = 41)
+land       = JRA55PrescribedLand(arch; time_indices_in_memory = 41)
 
 # ## The coupled simulation
 

diff --git a/examples/one_degree_simulation.jl b/examples/one_degree_simulation.jl
@@ -96,9 +96,8 @@ set!(sea_ice.model, h=ecco_sea_ice_thickness, ℵ=ecco_sea_ice_concentration)
 
 # We force the simulation with a JRA55-do atmospheric reanalysis.
 radiation  = Radiation(arch)
-jra55_backend = JRA55NetCDFBackend(80)
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; backend=jra55_backend)
-land       = JRA55PrescribedLand(arch; backend=jra55_backend)
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; time_indices_in_memory = 80)
+land       = JRA55PrescribedLand(arch; time_indices_in_memory = 80)
 
 # ### Coupled simulation
 

diff --git a/examples/single_column_os_papa_simulation.jl b/examples/single_column_os_papa_simulation.jl
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ set!(ocean.model, T=Metadatum(:temperature, dataset=GLORYSMonthly(), region=col)
 # We build a `JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere` at the same location as the single-colunm grid
 # which is based on the JRA55 reanalysis.
 
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(longitude = λ★,
-                                       latitude = φ★,
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(region   = Column(λ★, φ★),
                                        end_date = DateTime(1990, 1, 31), # Last day of the simulation
-                                       backend  = InMemory())
+                                       time_indices_in_memory = 1000)
 
 # This builds a representation of the atmosphere on the small grid
 

diff --git a/examples/veros_ocean_forced_simulation.jl b/examples/veros_ocean_forced_simulation.jl
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ ocean.set_forcing = set_forcing_tke_only
 # This includes 2-meter wind velocity, temperature, humidity, downwelling longwave and shortwave
 # radiation, as well as freshwater fluxes.
 
-atmos = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(; backend = JRA55NetCDFBackend(10))
+atmos = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(; time_indices_in_memory = 10)
 
 # The coupled ocean--atmosphere model.
 # We use the default radiation model and we do not couple an ice model for simplicity.

diff --git a/experiments/arctic_simulation.jl b/experiments/arctic_simulation.jl
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ set!(sea_ice.model, h=Metadatum(:sea_ice_thickness;     dataset),
 ##### A Prescribed Atmosphere model
 #####
 
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; backend=JRA55NetCDFBackend(40))
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; time_indices_in_memory=40)
 radiation  = Radiation()
 
 #####

diff --git a/experiments/coupled_simulation/earth_system_coupled_simulation.jl b/experiments/coupled_simulation/earth_system_coupled_simulation.jl
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ salinity    = ECCOMetadata(:salinity;    dir="./")
 ice_thickness     = ECCOMetadata(:sea_ice_thickness; dir="./")
 ice_concentration = ECCOMetadata(:sea_ice_concentration; dir="./")
 
-atmosphere  = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch, backend=JRA55NetCDFBackend(20))
+atmosphere  = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch, time_indices_in_memory=20)
 radiation   = Radiation(ocean_albedo = LatitudeDependentAlbedo(), sea_ice_albedo=0.6)
 
 set!(ocean.model, T=temperature, S=salinity)

diff --git a/experiments/flux_climatology/flux_climatology.jl b/experiments/flux_climatology/flux_climatology.jl
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ heat_capacity(ocean::Simulation{<:PrescribedOcean}) = 3995.6
 ##### A prescribed atmosphere...
 #####
 
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; backend=JRA55NetCDFBackend(1000))
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; time_indices_in_memory=1000)
 
 #####
 ##### A prescribed earth...

diff --git a/experiments/one_degree_simulation/debug_tides.jl b/experiments/one_degree_simulation/debug_tides.jl
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@ using Statistics
 
 import SPICE
 
-backend = JRA55NetCDFBackend(41)
 ρᵒᶜ = 1020
-pa = JRA55_field_time_series(:sea_level_pressure; backend)
+pa = JRA55_field_time_series(:sea_level_pressure; time_indices_in_memory=41)
 grid = pa.grid
 
 # dt = 30 * 60 # minutes

diff --git a/experiments/one_degree_simulation/generate_tidal_forcing.jl b/experiments/one_degree_simulation/generate_tidal_forcing.jl
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ using Dates
 using GLMakie
 import SPICE
 
-backend = JRA55NetCDFBackend(41)
-pa = JRA55_field_time_series(:sea_level_pressure; backend)
+pa = JRA55_field_time_series(:sea_level_pressure; time_indices_in_memory=41)
 
 pa_with_tides = FieldTimeSeries{Center, Center, Nothing}(pa.grid, pa.times,
                                                          path = "sea_level_pressure_plus_tides.jld2",

diff --git a/experiments/one_degree_simulation/one_degree_simulation.jl b/experiments/one_degree_simulation/one_degree_simulation.jl
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ set!(ocean.model, T=ECCOMetadata(:temperature; dates=first(dates)),
                   S=ECCOMetadata(:salinity;    dates=first(dates)))
 
 radiation  = Radiation(arch)
-atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; backend=JRA55NetCDFBackend(41))
+atmosphere = JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere(arch; time_indices_in_memory=41)
 coupled_model = OceanOnlyModel(ocean; atmosphere, radiation)
 
 simulation = Simulation(coupled_model; Δt=10minutes, stop_iteration=100)

diff --git a/src/DataWrangling/DataWrangling.jl b/src/DataWrangling/DataWrangling.jl
@@ -200,7 +200,9 @@ default_mask_value(dataset) = NaN
 
 # Fundamentals
 include("metadata.jl")
+include("set_region_data.jl")
 include("metadata_field.jl")
+include("dataset_backend.jl")
 include("metadata_field_time_series.jl")
 include("inpainting.jl")
 include("restoring.jl")

diff --git a/src/DataWrangling/ECCO/ECCO.jl b/src/DataWrangling/ECCO/ECCO.jl
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ using NumericalEarth.DataWrangling:
     location,
     compute_mask,
     inpaint_mask!,
-    set_metadata_field!,
-    extract_column!
+    set_metadata_field!
 
 using KernelAbstractions: @kernel, @index
 
@@ -51,6 +50,8 @@ import NumericalEarth.DataWrangling:
     metaprefix,
     longitude_interfaces,
     latitude_interfaces,
+    longitude_name,
+    latitude_name,
     z_interfaces,
     is_three_dimensional,
     inpainted_metadata_path,
@@ -113,6 +114,13 @@ longitude_interfaces(::ECCODataset) = (0, 360)
 longitude_interfaces(::ECCO4Monthly) = (-180, 180)
 latitude_interfaces(::ECCODataset) = (-90, 90)
 
+longitude_name(::Metadata{<:ECCODataset})        = "LONGITUDE_T"
+latitude_name(::Metadata{<:ECCODataset})         = "LATITUDE_T"
+longitude_name(::Metadata{<:ECCO4Monthly})       = "longitude"
+latitude_name(::Metadata{<:ECCO4Monthly})        = "latitude"
+longitude_name(::Metadata{<:ECCO4DarwinMonthly}) = "longitude"
+latitude_name(::Metadata{<:ECCO4DarwinMonthly})  = "latitude"
+
 z_interfaces(::ECCODataset) = [
     -6128.75,
     -5683.75,
@@ -371,37 +379,4 @@ inpainted_metadata_path(metadata::ECCOMetadatum) = joinpath(metadata.dir, inpain
 
 include("ECCO_atmosphere.jl")
 
-#####
-##### Column Field for ECCO datasets (which always download globally)
-#####
-
-using Oceananigans.BoundaryConditions: fill_halo_regions!
-
-const ECCOColumnMetadatum = Metadatum{<:ECCODataset, <:Any, <:Column}
-
-function Oceananigans.Fields.Field(metadata::ECCOColumnMetadatum, arch=CPU();
-                                   inpainting = default_inpainting(metadata),
-                                   mask = nothing,
-                                   halo = (3, 3, 3),
-                                   cache_inpainted_data = true)
-
-    download_dataset(metadata)
-    column_grid = native_grid(metadata, arch; halo)
-
-    # Build a full-grid Field without a region to load the global data
-    global_metadatum = Metadatum(metadata.name;
-                                 dataset = metadata.dataset,
-                                 date = metadata.dates)
-
-    intermediate_field = Field(global_metadatum, arch; inpainting, mask, halo, cache_inpainted_data)
-    fill_halo_regions!(intermediate_field)
-
-    # Extract the column
-    _, _, LZ = location(metadata)
-    column_field = Field{Nothing, Nothing, LZ}(column_grid)
-    extract_column!(column_field, intermediate_field, metadata.region)
-
-    return column_field
-end
-
 end # Module
diff --git a/src/DataWrangling/ECCO/ECCO_atmosphere.jl b/src/DataWrangling/ECCO/ECCO_atmosphere.jl
@@ -31,26 +31,19 @@ function ECCOPrescribedAtmosphere(architecture = CPU(), FT = Float32;
                                   surface_layer_height = 2,  # meters
                                   other_kw...)
 
-    ua_meta = Metadata(:eastward_wind;         dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-    va_meta = Metadata(:northward_wind;        dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-    Ta_meta = Metadata(:air_temperature;       dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-    qa_meta = Metadata(:air_specific_humidity; dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-    pa_meta = Metadata(:sea_level_pressure;    dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-    ℐꜜˡʷ_meta = Metadata(:downwelling_longwave;  dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-    ℐꜜˢʷ_meta = Metadata(:downwelling_shortwave; dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-    Fr_meta = Metadata(:rain_freshwater_flux;  dataset, start_date, end_date, dir)
-
-    kw = (; time_indices_in_memory, time_indexing)
+    kw = (; time_indexing, time_indices_in_memory)
     kw = merge(kw, other_kw)
 
-    ua = FieldTimeSeries(ua_meta, architecture; kw...)
-    va = FieldTimeSeries(va_meta, architecture; kw...)
-    Ta = FieldTimeSeries(Ta_meta, architecture; kw...)
-    qa = FieldTimeSeries(qa_meta, architecture; kw...)
-    pa = FieldTimeSeries(pa_meta, architecture; kw...)
-    ℐꜜˡʷ = FieldTimeSeries(ℐꜜˡʷ_meta, architecture; kw...)
-    ℐꜜˢʷ = FieldTimeSeries(ℐꜜˢʷ_meta, architecture; kw...)
-    Fr = FieldTimeSeries(Fr_meta, architecture; kw...)
+    ECCOFieldTimeSeries(name) = FieldTimeSeries(Metadata(name; dataset, start_date, end_date, dir), architecture; kw...)
+
+    ua   = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:eastward_wind)
+    va   = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:northward_wind)
+    Ta   = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:air_temperature)
+    qa   = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:air_specific_humidity)
+    pa   = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:sea_level_pressure)
+    ℐꜜˡʷ = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:downwelling_longwave)
+    ℐꜜˢʷ = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:downwelling_shortwave)
+    Fr   = ECCOFieldTimeSeries(:rain_freshwater_flux)
 
     freshwater_flux = (; rain = Fr)
 

diff --git a/src/DataWrangling/EN4/EN4.jl b/src/DataWrangling/EN4/EN4.jl
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ import NumericalEarth.DataWrangling:
     z_interfaces,
     longitude_interfaces,
     latitude_interfaces,
+    longitude_name,
+    latitude_name,
     is_three_dimensional,
     reversed_vertical_axis,
     inpainted_metadata_path,
@@ -70,6 +72,8 @@ reversed_vertical_axis(::EN4Monthly) = true
 
 longitude_interfaces(::EN4Monthly) = (0.5, 360.5)
 latitude_interfaces(::EN4Monthly) = (-83.5, 89.5)
+longitude_name(::Metadata{<:EN4Monthly}) = "lon"
+latitude_name(::Metadata{<:EN4Monthly})  = "lat"
 available_variables(::EN4Monthly) = EN4_dataset_variable_names
 
 z_interfaces(::EN4Monthly) = [

diff --git a/src/DataWrangling/JRA55/JRA55.jl b/src/DataWrangling/JRA55/JRA55.jl
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module JRA55
 
-export JRA55FieldTimeSeries, JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere, JRA55PrescribedLand, RepeatYearJRA55, MultiYearJRA55
+export JRA55PrescribedAtmosphere, JRA55PrescribedLand, RepeatYearJRA55, MultiYearJRA55, JRA55FieldTimeSeries
 
 using Oceananigans
 using Oceananigans.Units