The Met Office's research group at the Met Office Cardington site have studied boundary-layer meteorology and surface processes to support the development of numerical weather prediction methods since the 1990s until its closure in 2024. The effectiveness of these methods is critically dependent on access to and analysis of high-quality observational data sets. These are used in a number of ways including the development of physical parameterization schemes and in the evaluation of numerical model output. The site has produced a range of datasets over the years including a continuous hydrometeorological record between 2004 to 2024 including surface to 50-m meteorology, radiation and subsoil from in-situ sensor measurements timed at 1, 5, 10 and 30 minute intervals. Specialist remote-sensing instruments include microwave radiometers, Halo Doppler lidars, and ceilometers, in addition to radiosonde data.

The Met Office is the UK national meteorological service and one of the world's leading providers of environmental and weather-related services. Their solutions and services meet the needs of many communities of interest, from the general public, government and schools, through broadcasters and online media, to civil aviation and almost every other industry sector - in the UK and around the world. The Met Office headquarters are located in Exeter, UK. The Met Office makes a number of datasets available to the academic research community under the NERC - Met Office agreement or the Open Government Licence. For further details of these datasets see the links to this record.