Convertions

Script source

https://github.com/terryrankine/scripting/tree/master/netcdf-ga

Test conversions are available here

http://vhirl-dev.csiro.au/thredds/catalog/dem/catalog.html

The 'Blessed Solution' for current 'Merged Grids'

gdal_translate busselton.asc -of netCDF -co FORMAT=NC4 -co COMPRESS=DEFLATE busselton-final.nc
ncrename -v Band1,elevation busselton-final.nc
ncatted -h -O -a long_name,elevation,o,c,elevation busselton-final.nc
ncatted -h -O -a  positive,elevation,a,c,"up" busselton-final.nc
ncatted -h -O -a  units,elevation,a,c,"http://www.opengis.net/def/uom/OGC/1.0/metre" busselton-final.nc

Warping Options

The multi Warp steps can be seen here

gdalwarp busselton-final.nc -t_srs "+proj=latlong +datum=WGS84" -co "COMPRESS=DEFLATE" -r cubic output.wgs84.cubic.nc  -wo OPTIMIZE_SIZE=TRUE -of netCDF -dstnodata -9999
gdalwarp output.wgs84.cubic.nc -co "COMPRESS=DEFLATE" -r cubic -t_srs "+proj=utm +zone=50" output.warp.back.again.to.utm.nc  -wo OPTIMIZE_SIZE=TRUE -of netCDF -dstnodata -9999

Both Warped products are also hosted for inspection and a verdict on warping options is required.

VERDICT: Warping has changed the product, each scientist will view this differently, it is not really the original data on a new grid - it is a derived product on a new grid.

Question: What does GA want to host? The originals (as is) or a common CRS (coordinate reference system).