View data options and retrieve data from catalog without using the GUI

[nicolejkeeney]

Description of PR

PLEASE READ PR DESCRIPTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REVIEW :D

This PR adds a few new functions that enable users to view the data options and retrieve data from the catalog without using the selections GUI or needing to work with the intake library. It's intended to be much easier to use than intake, with more user-friendly language that matches what we have in the selections GUI, while enabling more tech-savvy users to retrieve and subset data using a python function instead of a GUI.

I created a python notebook to showcase the functions I wrote!! Please run through this notebook in the hub to review the PR. I also hope to showcase this notebook and new functionality to the larger team at some point after getting reviews on this PR.

AE_catalog_access_and_download.ipynb.zip

Also, I improved the documentation on some existing functions that my new code utilizes :)

Type of change

• [ ] Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)
• [x] New feature (non-breaking change which adds functionality)
• [ ] Breaking change (fix or feature that would cause existing functionality to not work as expected)
• [ ] This change requires a documentation update

How Has This Been Tested?

No tests written, not sure if these functions need them.

Checklist:

• [x] My code follows the style guidelines of this project
• [x] I have performed a self-review of my code
• [x] I have commented my code, particularly in hard-to-understand areas
• [x] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation
• [x] My changes generate no new warnings
• [] I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my feature works
• [x] New and existing unit tests pass locally with my changes
• [x] Any dependent changes have been merged and published in downstream modules

[nicolejkeeney]

Ugh, I was afraid we would get a cycular import issue...

Go ahead and put them in utils...

rats! I'll change it back :(

[nicolejkeeney]

I made some improvements as suggested by Tianchi and Eric! Everything looks good to me now. I will merge it shortly