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v3.15.x mergeback #6987

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6f5f4db
Whats-New updates for v3.15.0rc0 . (#6986)
trexfeathers Mar 17, 2026
ca94760
Merging v3.15.x into main
trexfeathers Mar 17, 2026
877562e
Restore latest Whats-New files.
trexfeathers Mar 17, 2026
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195 changes: 195 additions & 0 deletions docs/src/whatsnew/3.15.rst
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.. include:: ../common_links.inc

v3.15 (17 Mar 2026 [release candidate])
***************************************

This document explains the changes made to Iris for this release
(:doc:`View all changes <index>`.)


.. dropdown:: v3.15 Release Highlights
:color: primary
:icon: info
:animate: fade-in
:open:

The highlights for this minor release of Iris include:

* Overhauling the user documentation structure to maximise discoverability
and engagement with user needs going forward.

* NIMROD loader improvements to expand the types of NIMROD files Iris can load.

* Documentation page explaining how to access files in S3 buckets.

* Compatibility with Pandas version 3.

* Several large pieces of work **behind the scenes** to put Iris in the best
possible place for the future. To be continued!

* Investigating how Iris can provide native `Zarr`_ loading and saving
(beyond what is already possible via `ncdata`_).

* Completed a 2-year project converting all tests from unittest to pytest,
including compliance with the Ruff `PT` standard.

* In-progress work to fully support arrays of characters/strings.

* Investigating how Iris can integrate with the `Pint`_ units library, to
increase interoperability with the wider scientific Python ecosystem.

* Layout groundwork for making Iris fully Pip-installable, reducing the
dependency footprint and improving handling of optional dependencies.

And finally, get in touch with us on :issue:`GitHub<new/choose>` if you have
any issues or feature requests for improving Iris. Enjoy!


📢 Announcements
================

#. We've had a makeover! ✨ All user documentation pages have been reorganised
into a new structure: :doc:`/user_manual/index`. This restructure is to
maximise discoverability of the available pages, as well as embracing the
`Diataxis`_ framework for better engagement with user needs going forward.


✨ Features
===========

#. `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ added new *cube component* convenience methods that allow
for manipulation of any named dimensional component that can be attached to a
cube (i.e. coordinates, cell measures and ancillary variables) via a common
interface. The following methods are provided:

* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.component` and :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.components`:
get one or more components from a cube
* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.add_component`: add a component to a cube
* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.remove_component`: remove a component from a cube
* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.component_dims`: return the cube dimension(s)
spanned by a component.

(:issue:`5819`, :pull:`6854`)

#. `@ESadek-MO`_ added functionality to allow :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.concatenate`,
:func:`~iris.cube.Cube.rolling_window` and :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.intersection`
to work with dataless cubes. (:pull:`6860`, :pull:`6757`)

#. `@HGWright`_ added to the Nimrod loader to expand the types of Nimrod files it can load. This includes selecting which Nimrod table to use the data entry headers from. (:issue:`4505`, :pull:`6763`)

#. `@stephenworsley`_ added the coordinate method :meth:`~iris.coords.Coord.as_string_arrays`
and the class :class:`~iris.coords.PointBoundStrings` to help represent points and
bounds data on coordinates. This adapts code suggestions by `@rcomer`_ and `@vsherratt`_. (:issue:`4508`, :pull:`6978`)

🐛 Bugs Fixed
=============

#. `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ changed formatting of numpy scalars attributes when generating a
Cube/Coord summary to use ``str`` representation instead of ``repr``.
(:pull:`6966`, :issue:`6692`)


💣 Incompatible Changes
=======================

#. `@hsteptoe`_ and `@ESadek-MO`_ (reviewer) disabled the ``copy`` behaviour
across :mod:`iris.pandas`, as it is incompatible with Pandas v3 (see
`New pandas v3 copy behaviour`_). The parameter is still present, to help
mitigate disruption, but now marked for deprecation. (:pull:`6948`,
:issue:`6761`)


🚀 Performance Enhancements
===========================

#. Note that ``libnetcdf`` version 4.10.0 (released 25th Feb 2026) improves
NetCDF loading and saving performance, measured between 20-40% in Iris'
benchmarks (:issue:`6984`).


🔥 Deprecations
===============

#. `@ESadek-MO`_ has deprecated the :class:`~iris.tests.IrisTest` class, and other unittest-based
testing conveniences in favour of the conveniences found in :mod:`iris/tests/_shared_utils.py`.
(:pull:`6950`)

#. `@hsteptoe`_ has deprecated the use of the `copy` kwarg across :mod:`iris.pandas` to reflect changes
to the default behaviour of pandas v3 `New pandas v3 copy behaviour`_. (:pull:`6948`)


🔗 Dependencies
===============

#. `@hsteptoe`_ and `@ESadek-MO`_ (reviewer) made :mod:`iris.pandas`
interoperability compatible with pandas v3. (:pull:`6948`, :issue:`6761`)


📚 Documentation
================

#. `@tkknight`_ reduced the space used on the documentation homepage by the quick
link cards to allow for easier reading. (:pull:`6886`)

#. `@tkknight`_ added a gallery carousel to the documentation homepage. (:pull:`6884`)

#. :user:`bjlittle` added the ``:user:`` `extlinks`_ ``github`` user convenience.
(:pull:`6931`)

#. `@pp-mo`_ added a page on how to access datafiles in S3 buckets:
:doc:`/user_manual/tutorial/s3_io`.
(:issue:`6374`, :pull:`6951`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_, `@stephenworsley`_, `@ESadek-MO`_ and `@tkknight`_ reorganised **all**
user documentation pages into a new structure: :doc:`/user_manual/index`.
This restructure is to maximise discoverability of the available pages, as
well as embracing the `Diataxis`_ framework for better engagement with user
needs going forward. (:issue:`6511`, :pull:`6868`)


💼 Internal
===========

#. `@trexfeathers`_ and `@hdyson`_ updated ``_ff_replacement.py`` to clarify
that Iris supports Ancillaries. (:pull:`6792`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_ adapted ``test_OceanSigmaZFactory`` for NumPy 2.4 - only
0-dimensional arrays can now be converted to scalars. (:pull:`6876`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_ updated benchmarking to source Mule from its new home:
https://github.com/MetOffice/mule . (:pull:`6879`)

#. `@tkknight`_ removed flake8, we have ruff now instead. (:pull:`6889`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_ and `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ updated CI to support Python 3.14
inline with `SPEC0 Minimum Supported Dependencies`_. Note: `pyvista` (and
hence `geovista`) is not yet compatible with Python 3.14, so
:mod:`iris.experimental.geovista` is currently only available for
Python \<3.14. (:pull:`6816`, :issue:`6775`)

#. `@ESadek-MO`_, `@trexfeathers`_, `@bjlittle`_, `@HGWright`_, `@pp-mo`_,
`@stephenworsley`_ and `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ converted the entirity of the tests
from unittest to pytest. Iris is now also ruff-PT compliant, save for PT019.
(:issue:`6212`, :pull:`6939`)

#. `@hsteptoe`_ and `@ESadek-MO`_ (reviewer) updated chained assignment useage within the tests
associated with :mod:`iris.pandas` to reflect changes in pandas v3 `New pandas v3 copy behaviour`_.
(:pull:`6948`, :issue:`6761`)

#. `@hsteptoe`_ and `@ESadek-MO`_ (reviewer) added static type hinting to :mod:`iris.pandas`. (:pull:`6948`)

.. comment
Whatsnew author names (@github name) in alphabetical order. Note that,
core dev names are automatically included by the common_links.inc:

.. _@hdyson: https://github.com/hdyson
.. _@hsteptoe: https://github.com/hsteptoe

.. comment
Whatsnew resources in alphabetical order:

.. _New pandas v3 copy behaviour: https://pandas.pydata.org/docs/whatsnew/v3.0.0.html#consistent-copy-view-behaviour-with-copy-on-write
.. _SPEC0 Minimum Supported Dependencies: https://scientific-python.org/specs/spec-0000/
.. _Zarr: https://zarr.dev/
.. _ncdata: https://github.com/SciTools/ncdata
.. _Pint: https://github.com/hgrecco/pint
1 change: 1 addition & 0 deletions docs/src/whatsnew/index.rst
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:hidden:

latest.rst
3.15.rst
3.14.rst
3.13.rst
3.12.rst
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92 changes: 8 additions & 84 deletions docs/src/whatsnew/latest.rst
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Expand Up @@ -24,38 +24,14 @@ This document explains the changes made to Iris for this release
📢 Announcements
================

#. We've had a makeover! ✨ All user documentation pages have been reorganised
into a new structure: :doc:`/user_manual/index`. This restructure is to
maximise discoverability of the available pages, as well as embracing the
`Diataxis`_ framework for better engagement with user needs going forward.
#. N/A


✨ Features
===========

#. `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ added new *cube component* convenience methods that allow
for manipulation of any named dimensional component that can be attached to a
cube (i.e. coordinates, cell measures and ancillary variables) via a common
interface. The following methods are provided:

* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.component` and :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.components`:
get one or more components from a cube
* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.add_component`: add a component to a cube
* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.remove_component`: remove a component from a cube
* :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.component_dims`: return the cube dimension(s)
spanned by a component.

(:issue:`5819`, :pull:`6854`)

#. `@ESadek-MO`_ added functionality to allow :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.concatenate`,
:func:`~iris.cube.Cube.rolling_window` and :func:`~iris.cube.Cube.intersection`
to work with dataless cubes. (:pull:`6860`, :pull:`6757`)

#. `@HGWright`_ added to the Nimrod loader to expand the types of Nimrod files it can load. This includes selecting which Nimrod table to use the data entry headers from. (:issue:`4505`, :pull:`6763`)
#. N/A

#. `@stephenworsley`_ added the coordinate method :meth:`~iris.coords.Coord.as_string_arrays`
and the class :class:`~iris.coords.PointBoundStrings` to help represent points and
bounds data on coordinates. This adapts code suggestions by `@rcomer`_ and `@vsherratt`_. (:issue:`4508`, :pull:`6978`)

🐛 Bugs Fixed
=============
Expand All @@ -78,12 +54,7 @@ This document explains the changes made to Iris for this release
🔥 Deprecations
===============

#. `@ESadek-MO`_ has deprecated the :class:`~iris.tests.IrisTest` class, and other unittest-based
testing conveniences in favour of the conveniences found in :mod:`iris/tests/_shared_utils.py`.
(:pull:`6950`)

#. `@hsteptoe`_ has deprecated the use of the `copy` kwarg across :mod:`iris.pandas` to reflect changes
to the default behaviour of pandas v3 `New pandas v3 copy behaviour`_. (:pull:`6948`)
#. N/A


🔗 Dependencies
Expand All @@ -95,68 +66,21 @@ This document explains the changes made to Iris for this release
📚 Documentation
================

#. `@tkknight`_ reduced the space used on the documentation homepage by the quick
link cards to allow for easier reading. (:pull:`6886`)

#. `@tkknight`_ added a gallery carousel to the documentation homepage. (:pull:`6884`)

#. :user:`bjlittle` added the ``:user:`` `extlinks`_ ``github`` user convenience.
(:pull:`6931`)

#. `@pp-mo`_ added a page on how to access datafiles in S3 buckets.
(:issue:`6374`, :pull:`6951`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_, `@stephenworsley`_, `@ESadek-MO`_ and `@tkknight`_ reorganised **all**
user documentation pages into a new structure: :doc:`/user_manual/index`.
This restructure is to maximise discoverability of the available pages, as
well as embracing the `Diataxis`_ framework for better engagement with user
needs going forward. (:issue:`6511`, :pull:`6868`)
#. N/A


💼 Internal
===========

#. `@trexfeathers`_ and `@hdyson`_ updated ``_ff_replacement.py`` to clarify
that Iris supports Ancillaries. (:pull:`6792`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_ adapted ``test_OceanSigmaZFactory`` for NumPy 2.4 - only
0-dimensional arrays can now be converted to scalars. (:pull:`6876`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_ updated benchmarking to source Mule from its new home:
https://github.com/MetOffice/mule . (:pull:`6879`)

#. `@tkknight`_ removed flake8, we have ruff now instead. (:pull:`6889`)

#. `@trexfeathers`_ and `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ updated CI to support Python 3.14
inline with `SPEC0 Minimum Supported Dependencies`_. Note: `pyvista` (and
hence `geovista`) is not yet compatible with Python 3.14, so
:mod:`iris.experimental.geovista` is currently only available for
Python \<3.14. (:pull:`6816`, :issue:`6775`)

#. `@ESadek-MO`_, `@trexfeathers`_, `@bjlittle`_, `@HGWright`_, `@pp-mo`_,
`@stephenworsley`_ and `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ converted the entirity of the tests
from unittest to pytest. Iris is now also ruff-PT compliant, save for PT019.
(:issue:`6212`, :pull:`6939`)

#. `@hsteptoe`_ and `@ESadek-MO`_ (reviewer) updated chained assignment useage within the tests
associated with :mod:`iris.pandas` to reflect changes in pandas v3 `New pandas v3 copy behaviour`_.
(:pull:`6948`, :issue:`6761`)

#. `@hsteptoe`_ and `@ESadek-MO`_ (reviewer) added static type hinting to :mod:`iris.pandas`. (:pull:`6948`)
#. N/A

#. `@ukmo-ccbunney`_ changed formatting of numpy scalars attributes when generating a
Cube/Coord summary to use ``str`` representation instead of ``repr``.
(:pull:`6966`, :issue:`6692`)

.. comment
Whatsnew author names (@github name) in alphabetical order. Note that,
core dev names are automatically included by the common_links.inc:

.. _@hdyson: https://github.com/hdyson
.. _@hsteptoe: https://github.com/hsteptoe

.. comment
Whatsnew resources in alphabetical order:

.. _New pandas v3 copy behaviour: https://pandas.pydata.org/docs/whatsnew/v3.0.0.html#consistent-copy-view-behaviour-with-copy-on-write
.. _SPEC0 Minimum Supported Dependencies: https://scientific-python.org/specs/spec-0000/

.. comment
Whatsnew resources in alphabetical order:
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