For instance, if the url http://maps.gdal.org/daac-bin/nph-hdf/3B42.HDF.dds returns a DDS definition like this:
Dataset {
Structure {
Structure {
Float64 percipitate[scan = 5][longitude = 360][latitude = 80];
Float64 relError[scan = 5][longitude = 360][latitude = 80];
} PlanetaryGrid;
} DATA_GRANULE;
} 3B42.HDF;
then the percipitate grid can be accessed using the following GDAL dataset name:
http://maps.gdal.org/daac-bin/nph-hdf/3B42.HDF?DATA_GRANULE.PlanetaryGrid.percipitate[0][x][y]
The full path to the grid or array to be accessed needs to be specified (not counting the outer Dataset name). GDAL needs to know which indices of the array to treat as x (longitude or easting) and y (latitude or northing). Any other dimensions need to be restricted to a single value.
In cases of data servers with only 2D arrays and grids as immediate children of the Dataset it may not be necessary to name the grid or array variable.
In cases where there are a number of 2D arrays or grids at the dataset level, they may be each automatically treated as seperate bands.