title: Python: Read compressed (.gz) HDF file without writing and saving uncompressed file
body: <p>I have a large number of compressed HDF files, which I need to read. </p>
  
  <pre><code>file1.HDF.gz
  file2.HDF.gz
  file3.HDF.gz
  ...
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I can read in uncompressed HDF files with the following method</p>
  
  <pre><code>from pyhdf.SD import SD, SDC
  import os
  
  os.system('gunzip &lt; file1.HDF.gz &gt;  file1.HDF')
  HDF = SD('file1.HDF')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and repeat this for each file. However, this is more time consuming than I want.</p>
  
  <p>I'm thinking its possible that most of the time overhang comes from writing the compressed file to a new uncompressed version, and that I could speed it up if I simply was able to read an uncompressed version of the file into the <code>SD</code> function in one step.</p>
  
  <p>Am I correct in this thinking? And if so, is there a way to do what I want?</p>