Support np.timedelta64 as time dimension in Fields

parcels/_core/utils/time.py

@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@
 
 
 class TimeInterval:
-    """A class representing a time interval between two datetime objects.
+    """A class representing a time interval between two datetime or np.timedelta64 objects.
 
     Parameters
     ----------
-    left : datetime or cftime.datetime
+    left : np.datetime64 or cftime.datetime or np.timedelta64
         The left endpoint of the interval.
-    right : datetime or cftime.datetime
+    right : np.datetime64 or cftime.datetime or np.timedelta64
         The right endpoint of the interval.
 
     Notes
@@ -28,12 +28,17 @@
     """
 
     def __init__(self, left: T, right: T) -> None:
-        if not isinstance(left, (datetime, cftime.datetime, np.datetime64)):
-            raise ValueError(f"Expected right to be a datetime, cftime.datetime, or np.datetime64. Got {type(left)}.")
-        if not isinstance(right, (datetime, cftime.datetime, np.datetime64)):
-            raise ValueError(f"Expected right to be a datetime, cftime.datetime, or np.datetime64. Got {type(right)}.")
+        if not isinstance(left, (np.timedelta64, datetime, cftime.datetime, np.datetime64)):
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Expected right to be a np.timedelta64, datetime, cftime.datetime, or np.datetime64. Got {type(left)}."
+            )
+        if not isinstance(right, (np.timedelta64, datetime, cftime.datetime, np.datetime64)):
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Expected right to be a np.timedelta64, datetime, cftime.datetime, or np.datetime64. Got {type(right)}."
+            )
         if left >= right:
             raise ValueError(f"Expected left to be strictly less than right, got left={left} and right={right}.")
+
         if not is_compatible(left, right):
             raise ValueError(f"Expected left and right to be compatible, got left={left} and right={right}.")
 
@@ -58,15 +63,26 @@
         """Return the intersection of two time intervals. Returns None if there is no overlap."""
         if not is_compatible(self.left, other.left):
             raise ValueError("TimeIntervals are not compatible.")
+        if not is_compatible(self.right, other.right):
+            raise ValueError("TimeIntervals are not compatible.")
 
         start = max(self.left, other.left)
         end = min(self.right, other.right)
 
         return TimeInterval(start, end) if start <= end else None
 
 
-def is_compatible(t1: datetime | cftime.datetime, t2: datetime | cftime.datetime) -> bool:
-    """Checks whether two (cftime.)datetime objects are compatible."""
+def is_compatible(
+    t1: datetime | cftime.datetime | np.timedelta64, t2: datetime | cftime.datetime | np.timedelta64
+) -> bool:
+    """
+    Defines whether two datetime or np.timedelta64 objects are compatible in the context
+    of being left and right sides of an interval.
+    """
+    # Ensure if either is a timedelta64, both must be
+    if isinstance(t1, np.timedelta64) ^ isinstance(t2, np.timedelta64):
+        return False
+
     try:
         t1 - t2
     except Exception:

tests/v4/test_field.py

@@ -72,11 +72,13 @@ def test_field_init_structured_grid(data, grid):
     assert field.grid == grid
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("numpy_dtype", ["timedelta64[s]", "float64"])
-def test_field_init_fail_on_bad_time_type(numpy_dtype):
-    """Tests that field initialisation fails when the time isn't given as datetime object (i.e., is float or timedelta)."""
+def test_field_init_fail_on_float_time_dim():
+    """Test field initialisation fails when given float array as time dimension.
+
+    (users are expected to use timedelta64 or datetime).
+    """
     ds = datasets_structured["ds_2d_left"].copy()
-    ds["time"] = np.arange(0, T_structured, dtype=numpy_dtype)
+    ds["time"] = np.arange(0, T_structured, dtype="float64")
 
     data = ds["data_g"]
     grid = XGrid(xgcm.Grid(ds))

tests/v4/test_fieldset.py

@@ -128,6 +128,14 @@ def test_fieldset_add_field_incompatible_calendars(fieldset):
     with pytest.raises(CalendarError, match="Expected field '.*' to have calendar compatible with datetime object"):
         fieldset.add_field(field, "test_field")
 
+    ds_test = ds.copy()
+    ds_test["time"] = np.linspace(0, 100, T_structured, dtype="timedelta64[s]")
+    grid = XGrid(xgcm.Grid(ds_test))
+    field = Field("test_field", ds_test["data_g"], grid, mesh_type="flat")
+
+    with pytest.raises(CalendarError, match="Expected field '.*' to have calendar compatible with datetime object"):
+        fieldset.add_field(field, "test_field")
+
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "input_, expected",

tests/v4/utils/test_time.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from datetime import datetime, timedelta
+from datetime import datetime
 
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
@@ -11,17 +11,36 @@
 from parcels._core.utils.time import TimeInterval
 
 calendar_strategy = st.sampled_from(
-    ["gregorian", "proleptic_gregorian", "365_day", "360_day", "julian", "366_day", np.datetime64, datetime]
+    [
+        "gregorian",
+        "proleptic_gregorian",
+        "365_day",
+        "360_day",
+        "julian",
+        "366_day",
+        np.datetime64,
+        datetime,
+        np.timedelta64,
+    ]
 )
 
 
+@st.composite
+def np_timedelta64_strategy(draw):
+    """Strategy for generating np.timedelta64 objects."""
+    return np.timedelta64(draw(st.integers(1, 60 * 60 * 24 * 100 * 365)), "s")
+
+
 @st.composite
 def datetime_strategy(draw, calendar=None):
+    if calendar is None:
+        calendar = draw(calendar_strategy)
+    if calendar is np.timedelta64:
+        return draw(np_timedelta64_strategy())
+
     year = draw(st.integers(1900, 2100))
     month = draw(st.integers(1, 12))
     day = draw(st.integers(1, 28))
-    if calendar is None:
-        calendar = draw(calendar_strategy)
     if calendar is datetime:
         return datetime(year, month, day)
     if calendar is np.datetime64:
@@ -34,12 +53,8 @@ def datetime_strategy(draw, calendar=None):
 def time_interval_strategy(draw, left=None, calendar=None):
     if left is None:
         left = draw(datetime_strategy(calendar=calendar))
-    right = left + draw(
-        st.timedeltas(
-            min_value=timedelta(seconds=1),
-            max_value=timedelta(days=100 * 365),
-        )
-    )
+    right = left + draw(np_timedelta64_strategy())
+
     return TimeInterval(left, right)