PyNIO is a Python package that allows read and/or write access to a variety of scientific data formats, including NetCDF 3/4, HDF 4/5, HDFEOS 2/5, GRIB 1/2, and shapefiles. It provides a consistent NetCDF-like data model for all formats and through its interface to the NumPy array module allows for easy access to the power of Python scientific computing tools. In combination with mpi4py it has provided significant speedups for a number of "big data" processing tasks involving climate model data. Significant development to modernize the code is ongoing.

Slides, examples, material: http://www.pyngl.ucar.edu/Training/SEA2015/