old_contents: """
  Script calculates area of PIOMAS grid. 
   
  Notes
  -----
      Source : http://psc.apl.washington.edu/zhang/IDAO/data_piomas.html
      Author : Zachary Labe
      Date   : 12 September 2016
      
  Usage
  -----
      area = readPiomasArea(directory)
  """
  
  def readPiomasArea(directory):
      """
      Function calculates area of PIOMAS grid cells 
  
      Parameters
      ----------
      directory : string
          working directory for stored PIOMAS files
  
      Returns
      -------
      area : 2d array [lat,lon]
          area of grid cell
  
      Usage
      -----
      lats,lons,var = readPiomas(directory,years,threshold)
      """
      
      print('\n>>> Using readPiomasArea function!')
      
      ### Import modules
      import numpy as np
  
      ### Read in grids
      grid = np.genfromtxt(directory + 'griddata.txt')
      grid = np.reshape(grid,(grid.size))  
      
      ### Define Lat/Lon (sea PIOMAS grid documentation, fortran)
      lon = grid[:43200]   
      lons = np.reshape(lon,(120,360))
      lat = grid[43200:43200*2]
      lats = np.reshape(lat,(120,360))
      
      htn = grid[43200*2:43200*3]
      htn = np.reshape(htn,(120,360))
      hte = grid[43200*3:43200*4]
      hte = np.reshape(hte,(120,360))
      
      hts = grid[43200*4:43200*5]
      hts = np.reshape(hts,(120,360))
      htw = grid[43200*5:43200*6]
      htw = np.reshape(htw,(120,360))
      
      ex = grid[43200*6:43200*7]
      ex = np.reshape(ex,(120,360))
      
      print('Calculating area of grid cell')
      area = htn*hte
      
      print('*Completed: Area of PIOMAS calculated!')
      return area
new_contents: """
  Script calculates area of PIOMAS grid. 
   
  Notes
  -----
      Source : http://psc.apl.washington.edu/zhang/IDAO/data_piomas.html
      Author : Zachary Labe
      Date   : 12 September 2016
      
  Usage
  -----
      area = readPiomasArea(directory)
  """
  
  def readPiomasArea(directory):
      """
      Function calculates area of PIOMAS grid cells 
  
      Parameters
      ----------
      directory : string
          working directory for stored PIOMAS files
  
      Returns
      -------
      area : 2d array [lat,lon]
          area of grid cell
  
      Usage
      -----
      area = readPiomasArea(directory)
      """
      
      print('\n>>> Using readPiomasArea function!')
      
      ### Import modules
      import numpy as np
  
      ### Read in grids
      grid = np.genfromtxt(directory + 'griddata.txt')
      grid = np.reshape(grid,(grid.size))  
      
      ### Define Lat/Lon (sea PIOMAS grid documentation, fortran)
      lon = grid[:43200]   
      lons = np.reshape(lon,(120,360))
      lat = grid[43200:43200*2]
      lats = np.reshape(lat,(120,360))
      
      htn = grid[43200*2:43200*3]
      htn = np.reshape(htn,(120,360))
      hte = grid[43200*3:43200*4]
      hte = np.reshape(hte,(120,360))
      
      hts = grid[43200*4:43200*5]
      hts = np.reshape(hts,(120,360))
      htw = grid[43200*5:43200*6]
      htw = np.reshape(htw,(120,360))
      
      ex = grid[43200*6:43200*7]
      ex = np.reshape(ex,(120,360))
      
      print('Calculating area of grid cell')
      area = htn*hte
      
      print('*Completed: Area of PIOMAS calculated!')
      return area
  
subject: Correct comments