diff --git a/aospy/calc.py b/aospy/calc.py
index aaabe53..1591ba2 100644
--- a/aospy/calc.py
+++ b/aospy/calc.py
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ class Calc(object):
                         **{reg.name + '_pressure': coord}
                     )
             reg_dat.update(**{reg.name: data_out})
-        return OrderedDict(sorted(reg_dat.items(), key=lambda t: t[0]))
+        return xr.Dataset(reg_dat)
 
     def _apply_all_time_reductions(self, full_ts, monthly_ts, eddy_ts):
         """Apply all requested time reductions to the data."""
@@ -587,6 +587,9 @@ class Calc(object):
         reduced = self._apply_all_time_reductions(full, monthly, eddy)
         logging.info("Writing desired gridded outputs to disk.")
         for dtype_time, data in reduced.items():
+            data = _add_metadata_as_attrs(data, self.var.units,
+                                          self.var.description,
+                                          self.dtype_out_vert)
             self.save(data, dtype_time, dtype_out_vert=self.dtype_out_vert,
                       save_files=True, write_to_tar=write_to_tar)
         return self
@@ -601,15 +604,13 @@ class Calc(object):
                 reg_data = xr.open_dataset(path)
             except (EOFError, RuntimeError, IOError):
                 reg_data = xr.Dataset()
-            # Add the new data to the dictionary or Dataset.
-            # Same method works for both.
             reg_data.update(data)
             data_out = reg_data
         else:
             data_out = data
         if isinstance(data_out, xr.DataArray):
             data_out = xr.Dataset({self.name: data_out})
-        data_out.to_netcdf(path, engine='scipy')
+        data_out.to_netcdf(path, engine='netcdf4', format='NETCDF3_64BIT')
 
     def _write_to_tar(self, dtype_out_time):
         """Add the data to the tar file in tar_out_direc."""
@@ -767,3 +768,25 @@ class Calc(object):
         if plot_units:
             data = self.var.to_plot_units(data, dtype_vert=dtype_out_vert)
         return data
+
+def _add_metadata_as_attrs(data, units, description, dtype_out_vert):
+    """Add metadata attributes to Dataset or DataArray"""
+    if isinstance(data, xr.DataArray):
+        return _add_metadata_as_attrs_da(data, units, description,
+                                         dtype_out_vert)
+    else:
+        for name, arr in data.data_vars.items():
+            _add_metadata_as_attrs_da(arr, units, description,
+                                      dtype_out_vert)
+        return data
+
+def _add_metadata_as_attrs_da(data, units, description, dtype_out_vert):
+    """Add metadata attributes to DataArray"""
+    if dtype_out_vert == 'vert_int':
+        if units != '':
+            units = '(vertical integral of {0}): {0} kg m^-2)'.format(units)
+        else:
+            units = '(vertical integral of quantity with unspecified units)'
+    data.attrs['units'] = units
+    data.attrs['description'] = description
+    return data
diff --git a/docs/examples.rst b/docs/examples.rst
index 8045770..a1759a0 100644
--- a/docs/examples.rst
+++ b/docs/examples.rst
@@ -395,10 +395,18 @@ Each :py:class:`aospy.Calc` object includes the paths to the output
 
 and the results of each output type
 
-.. ipython:: pythoon
+.. ipython:: python
 
     calcs[0].data_out
 
+.. note::
+
+    Notice that the variable's name and description have been copied
+    to the resulting Dataset (and hence also to the netCDF file saved
+    to disk). This enables you to better understand what the physical
+    quantity is, even if you don't have the original ``Var`` definition
+    on hand.
+
 .. note::
 
    You may have noticed that ``subset_...`` and ``raw_...``
diff --git a/docs/whats-new.rst b/docs/whats-new.rst
index b93abb0..b4eb019 100644
--- a/docs/whats-new.rst
+++ b/docs/whats-new.rst
@@ -22,12 +22,15 @@ Breaking Changes
 Documentation
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-Corrected link to documentation badge on repository main page (:pull:213). By DaCoEx <https://github.com/dacoex>_.
+Corrected link to documentation badge on repository main page
+(:pull:213). By DaCoEx <https://github.com/dacoex>_.
 
-=======
 Enhancements
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
+- Add units and description from ``Var`` objects to output netcdf
+  files (closes :issue:`201` via :pull:`232`). By `Micah Kim
+  <https://github.com/micahkim23>`_.
 - Remove potentially confusing attributes from example netcdf files.
   (closes :issue:`214` via :pull:`216`). By `Micah Kim
   <https://github.com/micahkim23>`_.
@@ -37,13 +40,18 @@ Bug Fixes
 
 - Cast input DataArrays with datatype ``np.float32`` to ``np.float64``
   as a workaround for incorrectly computed means on float32 arrays in
-  bottleneck (see 
-  `pydata/xarray#1346 <https://github.com/pydata/xarray/issues/1346>`_).
-  If one would like to disable this behavior (i.e. restore the original
-  behavior before this fix), one can set the ``upcast_float32`` keyword
-  argument in their DataLoaders to ``False``.
-  Fixes :issue:`217` via :pull:`218`.  By `Spencer Clark
+  bottleneck (see `pydata/xarray#1346
+  <https://github.com/pydata/xarray/issues/1346>`_).  If one would
+  like to disable this behavior (i.e. restore the original behavior
+  before this fix), one can set the ``upcast_float32`` keyword
+  argument in their DataLoaders to ``False``.  Fixes :issue:`217` via
+  :pull:`218`.  By `Spencer Clark
   <https://github.com/spencerkclark>`_.
+- Switch from using ``scipy`` to ``netcdf4`` as the engine when
+  writing to netCDF files to avoid bugs when using ``libnetcdf``
+  version 4.5.0 (:pull:`235`).  By `Spencer Hill
+  <https://github.com/spencerahill>`_.
+
 
 Testing
 ~~~~~~~
@@ -101,8 +109,9 @@ Enhancements
 Dependencies
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
-- ``multiprocess`` is no longer required for submitting ``aospy`` calculations
-  in parallel (see discussion in :issue:`169` and pull request :pull:`172`).
+- ``multiprocess`` is no longer required for submitting ``aospy``
+  calculations in parallel (see discussion in :issue:`169` and pull
+  request :pull:`172`).
 - ``aospy`` now requires an installation of ``dask`` with version
   greater than or equal to 0.14 (see discussion in pull request
   :pull:`172`).
@@ -129,13 +138,13 @@ Bug Fixes
   included data from outside the Timestamp-valid range (fixed in
   :pull:`189`). By
   `Spencer Clark <https://github.com/spencerkclark>`_.
-- Toggle the ``mask_and_scale`` option to ``True`` when reading in netCDF files
-  to enable missing values encoded as floats to be converted to NaN's
-  (fixes :issue:`190` via :pull:`192`).  By
+- Toggle the ``mask_and_scale`` option to ``True`` when reading in
+  netCDF files to enable missing values encoded as floats to be
+  converted to NaN's (fixes :issue:`190` via :pull:`192`).  By
   `Spencer Clark <https://github.com/spencerkclark>`_.
-- Force regional calculations to mask gridcell weights where the loaded
-  datapoints were invalid instead of just masking points outside the desired
-  region (fixes :issue:`190` via :pull:`192`).  By
+- Force regional calculations to mask gridcell weights where the
+  loaded datapoints were invalid instead of just masking points
+  outside the desired region (fixes :issue:`190` via :pull:`192`).  By
   `Spencer Clark <https://github.com/spencerkclark>`_.
 - Retain original input data's mask during gridpoint-by-gridpoint
   temporal averages (fixes :issue:`193` via :pull:`196`).  By `Spencer

diff --git a/aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py b/aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py
index 3cd2311..b2fd4d3 100755
--- a/aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py
+++ b/aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py
@@ -4,13 +4,35 @@ import datetime
 from os.path import isfile
 import shutil
 import unittest
+import pytest
 
-from aospy.calc import Calc, CalcInterface
+import xarray as xr
+
+from aospy.calc import Calc, CalcInterface, _add_metadata_as_attrs
 from .data.objects.examples import (
     example_proj, example_model, example_run, condensation_rain,
     precip, sphum, globe, sahel
 )
 
+def _test_output_attrs(calc, dtype_out):
+    data = xr.open_dataset(calc.path_out[dtype_out])
+    expected_units = calc.var.units
+    if calc.dtype_out_vert == 'vert_int':
+        if expected_units != '':
+            expected_units = ("(vertical integral of {0}):"
+                              " {0} m)").format(expected_units)
+        else:
+            expected_units = ("(vertical integral of quantity"
+                              " with unspecified units)")
+    expected_description = calc.var.description
+    for name, arr in data.data_vars.items():
+        assert expected_units == arr.attrs['units']
+        assert expected_description == arr.attrs['description']
+
+def _test_files_and_attrs(calc, dtype_out):
+    assert isfile(calc.path_out[dtype_out])
+    assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+    _test_output_attrs(calc, dtype_out)
 
 class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
@@ -35,8 +57,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['av'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'av')
 
     def test_annual_ts(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out='ann',
@@ -44,8 +65,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['ts'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'ts')
 
     def test_seasonal_mean(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out='djf',
@@ -53,8 +73,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['av'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'av')
 
     def test_seasonal_ts(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out='djf',
@@ -62,8 +81,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['ts'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'ts')
 
     def test_monthly_mean(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out=1,
@@ -71,8 +89,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['av'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'av')
 
     def test_monthly_ts(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out=1,
@@ -80,8 +97,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['ts'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'ts')
 
     def test_simple_reg_av(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out='ann',
@@ -90,8 +106,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['reg.av'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'reg.av')
 
     def test_simple_reg_ts(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out='ann',
@@ -100,8 +115,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['reg.ts'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'reg.ts')
 
     def test_complex_reg_av(self):
         calc_int = CalcInterface(intvl_out='ann',
@@ -110,9 +124,7 @@ class TestCalcBasic(unittest.TestCase):
                                  **self.test_params)
         calc = Calc(calc_int)
         calc.compute()
-        assert isfile(calc.path_out['reg.av'])
-        assert isfile(calc.path_tar_out)
-
+        _test_files_and_attrs(calc, 'reg.av')
 
 class TestCalcComposite(TestCalcBasic):
     def setUp(self):
@@ -143,5 +155,37 @@ class TestCalc3D(TestCalcBasic):
             'dtype_out_vert': 'vert_int'
         }
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ('units', 'description', 'dtype_out_vert', 'expected_units',
+     'expected_description'),
+    [('', '', None, '', ''),
+     ('m', '', None, 'm', ''),
+     ('', 'rain', None, '', 'rain'),
+     ('m', 'rain', None, 'm', 'rain'),
+     ('', '', 'vert_av', '', ''),
+     ('m', '', 'vert_av', 'm', ''),
+     ('', 'rain', 'vert_av', '', 'rain'),
+     ('m', 'rain', 'vert_av', 'm', 'rain'),
+     ('', '', 'vert_int',
+      '(vertical integral of quantity with unspecified units)', ''),
+     ('m', '', 'vert_int',
+      '(vertical integral of m): m kg m^-2)', ''),
+     ('', 'rain', 'vert_int',
+      '(vertical integral of quantity with unspecified units)', 'rain'),
+     ('m', 'rain', 'vert_int',
+      '(vertical integral of m): m kg m^-2)', 'rain')]
+)
+def test_attrs(units, description, dtype_out_vert, expected_units,
+                expected_description):
+    da = xr.DataArray(None)
+    ds = xr.Dataset({'bar': 'foo', 'boo': 'baz'})
+    da = _add_metadata_as_attrs(da, units, description, dtype_out_vert)
+    ds = _add_metadata_as_attrs(ds, units, description, dtype_out_vert)
+    assert expected_units == da.attrs['units']
+    assert expected_description == da.attrs['description']
+    for name, arr in ds.data_vars.items():
+        assert expected_units == arr.attrs['units']
+        assert expected_description == arr.attrs['description']
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()

Adding units/description to netcdf files
Currently, the descriptions/units in Var objects are not saved in the output netcdf files. It would be nice if this was the case.

aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[--None--] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[m--None-m-] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[-rain-None--rain] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[m-rain-None-m-rain] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[--vert_av--] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[m--vert_av-m-] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[-rain-vert_av--rain] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[m-rain-vert_av-m-rain] aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[--vert_int-(vertical aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[m--vert_int-(vertical aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[-rain-vert_int-(vertical aospy/test/test_calc_basic.py::test_attrs[m-rain-vert_int-(vertical