cdm/src/main/java/ucar/nc2/Group.java
public Variable findVariableOrInParent(String varShortName) {
    if (varShortName == null) return null;

    Variable v = findVariable(varShortName);
    Group parent = getParentGroup();
    if ((v == null) && (parent != null))
      v = parent.findVariableOrInParent(varShortName);
    return v;
  }
public Variable findVariableOrInParent(String varShortName) {
    if (varShortName == null) return null;

    Variable v = findVariable(varShortName);
    Group parent = getParentGroup();
    if ((v == null) && (parent != null))
      v = parent.findVariableOrInParent(varShortName);
    return v;
  }
Find the Variable with the specified (short) name in this group or a parent group.

@param varShortName short name of Variable.
@return the Variable, or null if not found