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 between 2004 and 2024, operated the Radiometrics TP/WVP-3000 microwave radiometer using a neural network to retrieve profiles of water vapour and temperature. The TP/WVP-3000 was set up to take readings in the vertical approximately every 8 s. Regular tipping curve scans were done over a range of zenith angles (30, 45, 90, 135, 150 degrees) to compare the atmospheric radiances to that of known values at relatively opaque water vapour frequencies (with the opacity being a linear function of the slant path), in addition using frequent views of an internal temperature-controlled black body. Absolute calibrations for the absorbing channels were done periodically using a black body cooled with liquid nitrogen.

A full list of NetCDF variables can be found in "Continuous meteorological surface and soil records (2004-2024) at the Met Office surface site of Cardington, UK." Osborne et al. ESSD (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.