Met Office Cardington: vertical profile measurements from Vaisala radiosonde ascents, 1996-2024

This repository provides data from all radiosondes launched at Cardington between 1996-2024.
The sonde unit was operated by the Met Office Observation-based research Boundary Layer Facility, at the semi-rural field site (18 Ha) of Cardington (52° 06′ N, 00° 25′ W, 29 m ± 1 m amsl) in central-southern England.

Sonde launches were performed with a mean ascent rate of 2.5 m s-1. The slower ascent rate compared to an operational sonde ascent rate enables improved vertical sampling resolution in the atmospheric boundary layer whilst maintaining a sufficient ventilation rate over the sensors. From 1996-2002, a RS80 device was used with ThermoCap, HumiCap, BaroCap sensors, and between 2006-2014 a RS92-SGPB device was used with ThermoCap, HumiCap, capacitive pressure sensors. Sonde launches from 2014-2024 used an RS41-SG(P) device with PRT, silicon capacitive pressure (SGP), and HumiCap sensors.

The launches of radiosondes were performed on a project related basis only and all available ascent data has been provided from the Cardington facility. Please note that there were no ascents in 2022.

A full list of NetCDF variables can be found in “A continuous hydrometeorological record (2004–2024) at the Met Office surface site of Cardington, UK.” Osborne et al. (2025). This paper should be referenced in any research/publications pertaining to this dataset.

To ensure optimal traceability and transparency of data, comprehensive metadata is included.

本数据集仓库收录了1996年至2024年间于卡灵顿（Cardington）发射的全部无线电探空仪（radiosondes）观测数据。该探空观测系统由英国气象局（Met Office）观测型研究边界层设施（Observation-based research Boundary Layer Facility）运维，部署于英格兰中南部卡灵顿的半野外场地（占地18公顷，地理坐标为52°06′N、00°25′W，海拔29米±1米）。

本次探空发射的平均上升速率为2.5 m·s⁻¹。相较于业务化探空仪的上升速率，本观测采用的较慢上升速率可提升大气边界层内的垂直采样分辨率，同时确保传感器获得充足的通风量。1996年至2002年，观测使用RS80型设备，搭配ThermoCap、HumiCap及BaroCap传感器；2006年至2014年则采用RS92-SGPB型设备，搭配ThermoCap、HumiCap及电容式压力传感器；2014年至2024年的探空发射使用RS41-SG(P)型设备，搭配铂电阻温度计（PRT）、硅电容压力传感器（silicon capacitive pressure, SGP）及HumiCap传感器。

本次无线电探空发射仅按项目需求开展，卡灵顿设施已提供所有可用的上升轨迹观测数据。请注意，2022年未进行任何探空发射作业。

完整的网络通用数据格式（Network Common Data Form, NetCDF）变量列表可参阅《英国卡灵顿英国气象局地面站点连续水文气象记录（2004–2024）》（*A continuous hydrometeorological record (2004–2024) at the Met Office surface site of Cardington, UK*）一文，作者为Osborne等人（2025年）。凡使用本数据集开展的研究或发表成果，均需引用该文献。

为确保数据的最佳可追溯性与透明度，本数据集包含完整的元数据（metadata）。