import netCDF4
nc = netCDF4.Dataset('http://testbedapps-dev.sura.org/thredds/dodsC/alldata/Inundation/und/adcirc_tropical/runs/Hurricane_Ike_2D_final_run_with_waves/00_dir.ncml')
for varname,ncvar in nc.variables.items():
attdict = ncvar.__dict__
if 'dimension' in attdict: print 'found dimension in %s ' % varname
if 'standard_name' in attdict:
if attdict['standard_name']=='mesh_topology':
print 'found mesh_topology in %s' % varname
if attdict['standard_name']=='face_node_connectivity':
print 'found face_node_connectivity in %s' % varname
found face_node_connectivity in element found dimension in adcirc_mesh found mesh_topology in adcirc_mesh
attdict
OrderedDict([(u'long_name', u'radiation stress gradient y component'), (u'standard_name', u'radiation_stress_gradient_y'), (u'units', u'metric'), (u'_FillValue', -99999.0), (u'location', u'node'), (u'coordinates', u'time y x'), (u'mesh', u'adcirc_mesh')])