make a new dimension with dataset.merge

[PLSeuJ]

Is your feature request related to a problem?

I was trying to combine datasets with a field data (i.e. radar signal data on a lat and lon grid) each dataset being from a different point of time. As far as I could understand, there currently is no straight forward way to do this in xarray (or at least I did not find it).

Describe the solution you'd like

Maybe this would be a nice thing to add internally (e.g. xr.merge([ds1, ds2], newaxis='time')). Or in case I just did not find it, lets add it to the Combining data Documentation site for easy access.

Describe alternatives you've considered

I added a new coordinate and dimension (i.e. 'time') to every dataset individually before using merge for the datasets.

Additional context

No response

[TomNicholas]

Hi @PLSeuJ, I'm not sure I understand (a minimum example of what you're trying to do would be helpful). Can you not just use xr.concat(ds1, d2, dim="time")? As long as your two radar data datasets lie on the same (lat, lon) grid points then that should do what you're asking for?

[dcherian]

And it says so on the "Combining data" page:

For combining datasets or data arrays along a single dimension, see concatenate.

[PLSeuJ]

Hi @TomNicholas and @dcherian ,

thanks for your replies! I am super sorry, I must have overseen the part were it says "or new dimension" in the concatenate documentation. This indeed is exactly what I thought about.
Sorry for the bummer!

[TomNicholas]

No problem @PLSeuJ - if you think the docs could be clearer in any way then we are open to suggestions!

[PLSeuJ]

I put some thoughts to that in the last hour, but in fact the documentation is very good, if you don't happen to give up on the first sentence.
I looked at the documentation style of all the methods and will propose a minor change to the concatenate docs first sentence. highlighting the words dataset and data array, as in the other methods descriptions.

[dcherian]

Thanks @PLSeuJ let us know if you need any help with making that change

[PLSeuJ]

thanks @dcherian this first time took me a bit, but I think it worked out. It's a very minor change though. If i find the time, I will definitely come back to this.