# xarray.tutorial.open_dataset

### xarray.tutorial.open_dataset(name, cache=True, cache_dir=None, , engine=None, \*\*kws)[[source]](https://github.com/pydata/xarray/blob/v2026.09.0/xarray/tutorial.py#L85-L175)

Open a dataset from the online repository (requires internet).

If a local copy is found then always use that to avoid network traffic.

Available datasets:

* `"air_temperature"`: NCEP reanalysis subset
* `"air_temperature_gradient"`: NCEP reanalysis subset with approximate x,y gradients
* `"basin_mask"`: Dataset with ocean basins marked using integers
* `"ASE_ice_velocity"`: MEaSUREs InSAR-Based Ice Velocity of the Amundsen Sea Embayment, Antarctica, Version 1
* `"rasm"`: Output of the Regional Arctic System Model (RASM)
* `"ROMS_example"`: Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS) output
* `"tiny"`: small synthetic dataset with a 1D data variable
* `"era5-2mt-2019-03-uk.grib"`: ERA5 temperature data over the UK
* `"eraint_uvz"`: data from ERA-Interim reanalysis, monthly averages of upper level data
* `"ersstv5"`: NOAA’s Extended Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature monthly averages

* **Parameters:**
  * **name** ([`str`](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/stdtypes.html#str)) – Name of the file containing the dataset.
    e.g. ‘air_temperature’
  * **cache_dir** ([path-like](https://docs.python.org/3/glossary.html#term-path-like-object), *optional*) – The directory in which to search for and write cached data.
  * **cache** ([`bool`](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/functions.html#bool), *optional*) – If True, then cache data locally for use on subsequent calls
  * **\*\*kws** ([`dict`](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/stdtypes.html#dict), *optional*) – Passed to xarray.open_dataset

#### SEE ALSO
`tutorial.load_dataset`, [`open_dataset`](#xarray.tutorial.open_dataset), [`load_dataset`](xarray.tutorial.load_dataset.html.md#xarray.tutorial.load_dataset)