Woburn Meteorological Station

  • Description: Rothamsted commenced management of the farm at Woburn in the 1920's and the first meteorological records date back to 1928. Temperature, rainfall, sunshine, wind force, wind direction, cloud cover, barometric pressure, visibility, relative humidity and soil temperature under grass have been measured since 1928. Wind speed and wind run and days with hail/thunder/snow/fog have been measured since 1968, radiation measurements started in 1981 and rainfall duration has been measured since 1988. The weather station was automated in 1999, with a range of sensors attached to an automatic data logger. Hourly data from 2004 are available from the e-RA Curators.

    The mean annual temperature (1971-2000) was 9.6 °C. Annual rainfall averages 649mm (1971-2000).

    Real-time hourly, daily and yearly weather charts for Woburn are available on-line over 28 days or 365 days (rolling) via the Rothamsted Environmental Change Network (ECN) pages

  • Date Start: 1928
  • Date End: Ongoing
  • Recording: Daily at 0900GMT
  • Automatic data recording began: 1st July 1999
  • Manual recording finished: 1st July 1999
  • Address: Mill Road, Husborne Crawley, Bedfordshire, MK43 OXF, United Kingdom
  • OS Grid Ref: SP 96440 36047
  • Latitude/Longitude: 52.0145 N -0.5962 E
  • Altitude: 89 m asl
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Key Contacts

  • Andy Gregory

  • Role: Principal Investigator
  • Organisation: Rothamsted Research
  • Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
  • Tony Scott

  • Role: Data Manager
  • Organisation: Rothamsted Research
  • Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
  • Sarah Perryman

  • Role: Data Manager
  • ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0056-2754
  • Organisation: Rothamsted Research
  • Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
  • Margaret Glendining

  • Role: Data Manager
  • ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6466-4629
  • Organisation: Rothamsted Research
  • Address: West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom

Funding

  • The e-RA database, including the published datasets generated from it, is part of the Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments - National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (RLTE-NBRI), which also includes the Long-Term Experiments, the Rothamsted Sample Archive and Rothamsted's environmental monitoring activities including the weather stations and its role in the UK Environmental Change Network.
  • The RLTE-NBRI is funded by UK Research and Innovation - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UKRI-BBSRC) under award BBS/E/RH/23NB0007 (2023-2028). The RLTE-NBRI is also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust.

Meteorological data available in WOBMET

Daily meteorological data recorded at Woburn, Bedfordshire available since 1928. Manual observations ceased on 1st July 1999, and meteorological records are now measured by a range of sensors attached to an automatic data logger. The datalogger was upgraded from a CR10X to a CR1000X on Sept 10th 2020. Hourly data from 2004 is available from the e-RA Curators.

Since 2009 occasional missing data, due to equipment failure, has been supplied as raw data from the Met. Office weather station at the same site. This is indicated in the descriptions below. Please ensure you cite this. Met. Office raw data was used for all variables 18/07/2013-26/07/2013 and 09/10/2013-11/10/2013. © Crown Copyright 2013 Published by the Met. Office.

Variable Units Description Dates recorded Measurement methods

Air temperature

TMAX °C Maximum temperature 1928-current date

Recorded over the 24 hour period up to 0900GMT, for the previous day's maximum temperature.

Since 1999, recorded by a thermistor (electronic temperature probe, Campbell Scientific, type 107). Previously recorded with a mercury-in-glass sheathed maximum thermometer housed in a naturally aspirating temperature screen. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.

TMIN °C Minimum temperature 1928-current date

Recorded over the 24 hour period up to 0900GMT, for the current day's minimum temperature.

Since 1999, recorded by a thermistor (electronic temperature probe, Campbell Scientific, type 107). Previously recorded with a spirit-in-glass with indicator bar minimum thermometer, housed in a naturally aspirating temperature screen. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.

WETB °C Wet bulb temperature, measuring temperature of evaporation 1928-2009

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Since 1999, measured by a thermistor (electronic temperature probe, Campbell Scientific, type 107). Previously measured with a mercury-in-glass sheathed thermometer housed in a naturally aspirating temperature screen, the bulb covered by a cotton wick kept moist from a water reservoir. Until 2009 used with DRYB to calculate relative humidity (RELH), vapour pressure (VAP) and dew point (DEWP). There were problems with WETB drying out and there is no data 16/06/2009-08/10/2009.

Discontinued on 1st December 2009 and replaced by a Relative Humidity Sensor to measure RELH and from which VAP and DEWP are now calculated.

DRYB °C Dry bulb temperature 1928-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Since 1999, measured by a thermistor (electronic temperature probe, Campbell Scientific, type 107). Previously measured with a mercury-in-glass sheathed thermometer housed in a naturally aspirating temperature screen. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.

Used with WETB and then RELH to derive other variables including VAP and DEWP.

DEWP °C Dew point (derived) 1968-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Derived from DRYB and RELH since December 1st 2009, calculated after the method of Lowe (1977). From 10th September 2020 calculated after the method of Buck (1981), within the datalogger. Previously derived from DRYB and WETB, calculated within the datalogger (see derived variables). Before 1999 calculated from hygrometric tables. There were problems with WETB drying out and there is no data 16/06/2009-08/10/2009. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.

GRSMIN °C Grass minimum temperature 1929-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT

Since 1999 recorded by a thermistor (electronic temperature probe, Campbell Scientific, type 107), approx. 1cm above grass surface, measurement period 1800-0900GMT, measured according to Met Office Procedure. Previously recorded with a glass sheathed spirit-in-glass with indicator bar minimum thermometer, with cotton sleeve and anti-condensation shield on upper part of the instrument, minimum temperature 0900-0900GMT. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.

Soil temperature under grass

G30T °C Soil temperature at 30cm under grass 1971-1987

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Since 1999, measured by thermistors (electronic temperature probes, Campbell Scientific, type 107), buried in the soil at the appropriate depth. First recorded in 1928 using specially adapted mercury thermometers, set at depths of 1 foot and 4 feet (approximately 30 and 100cm) under grass cover. Other depths added later.

30cm depth recorded as E30T 1928-1970; 1988-current, and as G30T1971-1987. For soil temperature at approximately 1 metre depth, use E100T 1928-1967; 1971-current date, and E122T 1968-1970.

E30T °C Soil temperature at 30cm under grass 1928-1970; 1988-current date. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.
E50T °C Soil temperature at 50cm under grass 1971-current date
E60T °C Soil temperature at 60cm under grass 1968-1970
E100T °C Soil temperature at 100cm under grass 1928-1967; 1971-current date. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.
E122T °C Soil Temperature at 122cm under grass 1968-1970

Soil temperature under bare soil

S10T °C Bare soil temperature at 10cm depth 1968-current date. Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Since 1999 measured by thermistors (electronic temperature probes, Campbell Scientific, type 107), buried in the soil at the appropriate depth. First recorded in 1968 using specially adapted mercury thermometers, set at depths of 10 and 20cm under bare soil.

S20T °C Bare soil temperature at 20cm depth 1968-current depth

Rainfall

RAIN mm Rainfall 1928-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT, for the total rainfall over the previous 24 hours,

Since Sept 10th 2020 recorded with an SBS500 tipping bucket rain gauge, funnel diameter 25.2cm and calibrated to tip at 0.2mm, manufactured by Environmental Measurements Ltd (EML), supplied and calibrated by Campbell Scientific. From 1999 until Sept 2020, rainfall was measured by an electronic tipping bucket rain gauge of 25.4cm (10 inch) diameter, calibrated to tip at 0.2mm, ARG100 (manufactured by EML, supplied and calibrated by Campbell Scientific). It was originally measured manually using a 12.7cm (5 inch) copper cylindrical rain gauge.

EML state that the "ARG100 rain gauge typically captures over 5% more rainfall than most traditionally-shaped cylindrical gauges due to its unique aerodynamic shape and reduced evaporation-loss properties". This has been found to be the case at Rothamsted, were rainfall in the 5" rain gauge continued to be measured on a twice weekly basis. The 5" gauges at Woburn ceased to be used at the time of automation, so it is not possible to make a comparison.

"Missing values" There are some instances before 1968 when no data is shown for RAIN (rather than zero). This is because a 'trace' of rain, snow, mist, dew or fog was manually recorded. A 'trace' is less than 0.05mm. For most purposes a missing value can be assumed to be zero.

Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for the following dates: 01/07/2009-08/10/2009; 18/07/2013-26/07/2013; 09/10/2013-11/10/2013; 20/06/2015-28/06/2015; 16/06/2016-20/07/2016. © Crown Copyright 2009; 2013; 2015; 2016. Published by the Met. Office.

Sunshine

SUN hr Hours sunshine 1928-current date

Hours of bright sunshine in previous 24 hours, 0000GMT to 2400GMT.

Since 1999, recorded automatically, calculated using the Campbell-Stokes equation from solar radiation measurments using a Kipp and Zonen thermopile pyranometer, model CM5, then model CM6B until 2016, currently model CMP6. Previously measured manually with a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder, at 2m above the ground. The sun's rays are focused onto a card (treated to prevent it from catching fire) and the brown scorch mark on the card is then measured. The cards are of varying lengths applicable to the time of year (winter, equinox, and summer).

Radiation

RAD MJ/m2 Total solar radiation 1981-current date

Total (global) solar radiation in previous 24 hours, 0000GMT to 2400GMT.

Since July 1999 solar radiation has been recorded automatically using a Kipp and Zonen thermopile pyranometer, model CM5, then model CM6B until 2016, currently model CMP6. Previously it was recorded manually. No data was recorded 1/12/1998-28/6/1999.

Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for the following dates: 18/07/2013-26/07/2013; 09/10/2013-11/10/2013; 07/06/2015-20/07/2016; 18/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023 Published by the Met. Office.

Cloud

CLOUD otka Cloud cover 1928-1999

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Observed cloud cover on a scale of 0 to 9 Oktas. 0 oktas represents the complete absence of cloud. 1 okta represents a cloud amount of 1 eighth or less, but not zero. 7 oktas represents a cloud amount of 7 eighths or more, but not full cloud cover. 8 oktas represents full cloud cover with no breaks. 9 oktas represents sky obscured by fog or other meteorological phenomena.

From 1928-1960s, cloud cover shown in 10th, ie scale of 0-10, with 10 = full cover.

Wind

WDIR degrees Wind direction (at 2m) 1928-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Wind direction (WDIR) has been recorded since 1928 and was originally estimated by a wind vane with fixed ordinal points. It is shown as an angle (0-360 degrees), going clockwise from North. 360 = North, 90 = East, 180 = South, 270 = West. The reading 0 (or 000) indicates that there is no wind, ie the windspeed is 0 m/s. A WDIR reading of 0 with a windspeed greater than 0 implies that the WDIR is 360 degrees (North).

Since 1999 measured by an electronic wind vane (Vector Instruments, W200P) at 2m height, as an average over 10 minutes from 0850 to 0900GMT.

WFORCE code Wind force in Beaufort scale (0-12) 1928-1967

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Wind speed was first estimated at Woburn using the Beaufort scale, which describes wind speed on a scale of 0 (no wind) to 12 (hurricane) based on observations of the movement of smoke, leaves, branches, etc. It is shown in e-RA as wind force (WFORCE). From 1968 onwards this was replaced by direct measurements of wind speed (WINDSP).

The Beaufort scale can be adjusted to wind speed as follows: V = 0.836 x SQRT (B3) where V is the equivalent wind speed (m/s) at 10 metres above ground level and B is Beaufort scale number (see Conversion factors)

WINDSP m/s Wind speed (at 10m) 1968-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT.

From July 1st 1999, measured with an automated cup anemometer at 2m height, multiplied by 1.28 to upscale to the standard 10m height (see Conversion factors). This sensor was replaced in July 2008 with a new automated cup anemometer (Vector Instruments, A100LK) also at 2m, adjusted to the standard 10m height. Before July 1999 measured with an electronic sensor Didcot DWR201 cup anemometer.

From 1999 WINDSP, has been calculated as an average over 60 seconds sampled at 0900GMT. Average 24 hour windspeed can be calculated from total daily WINDRUN, correcting for height (see Conversion factors).

Average daily (24 hour) windspeed can be calculated from total daily WINDRUN, correcting for height (see Conversion factors).

WINDRUN km Run of wind (at 2m) 1968-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT, for the run of wind in the previous 24 hours.

Since July 1999 measured with an automated cup anemometer at 2m high, replaced in July 2008 with a A100LK automated cup anemometer (Vector Instruments) also at 2m. Before July 1999 measured with a cup anemometer at 2m high, with a calibrated counter.

Diary

Daily observations, based on standard Met Office weather codes. Discontinued 1978 or 1999.
DYHAIL Code Code indicating type of hail 1968-1987; 1997-1999

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual observations indicating if hail was present during the day, and if so, what type. Code 0-7. 1 = Ice prisms; 2 = Snow grains; 3 = Snow pellets; 4 = Ice pellets; 5 = Hail (5-9mm diameter); 6 = Hail (10-19mm diameter); 7 = Hail (20mm diameter or more). Null or code 0 = No hail.

DYSNOW Code Code indicating day with snow or sleet 1968-1987; 1997-1999

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual observations recording if snow or sleet was present. Code 1 = sleet; code 5 = snow crystals. Null or code 0 = no snow.

DYTHUN Code Code indicating day with thunder 1968-1987; 1997-1999

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual observations recording if thunder was present. Code 1 = thunder present during the day. Null or code 0 = no thunder during the day.

FOG Code Code indicating fog 1968-1978

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual observations recording if fog was present at time of observation. Code 1 = fog present. Null or code 0 = no fog.

SNOWL Code Code indicating whether snow lying 1968-1978

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual observation recording if snow was present on the ground at the time of the observation. Code 1 = more than 50% ground at the station covered with snow; Null or code 0 = no snow lying. This may include snow from a previous day. See FSNOWD for depth of freshly fallen snow for the current day

SNOWD mm Total depth of snow 1968-1999

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual reading of total depth of snow at time of observation. This may include snow from a previous day. See FSNOWD for depth of freshly fallen snow for the current day.

FSNOWD mm Depth of freshly-fallen snow 1968-1978

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual recording of total depth of freshly-fallen snow at time of observation.

Other selected fields

RELH % Relative Humidity 1928-70; 2009-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Since July 3rd 2018 measured by a Relative Humidity sensor EE181 (manufactured by E+E Elektronic Corporation, supplied and calibrated by Campbell Scientific). This replaced the MP100A RH Sensor (manufactured by Rotronics, supplied by Campbell Scientific) used from December 2009. Before December 2009 available as a derived variable within e-RA, derived from WETB and DRYB (see derived variables). Missing data was supplied by the Met. Office for 18-19/06/2023. © Crown Copyright 2023. Published by the Met. Office.

BAR mb Barometric pressure 1928-70; 1988-99

Recorded at 0900GMT.

A mercury barometer was used to measure atmospheric pressure. Attached thermometer readings (THERM) are available from the e-RA curators.

VAP mb Vapour pressure (derived) 1928-1978; 1988-current date

Recorded at 0900GMT

From December 2009 onwards calculated within the datalogger from RELH and DRYB after the method of Lowe (1977). From 10th September 2020 calculated after the method of Buck (1981), within the datalogger.

Before December 2009 calculated within the datalogger from WETB and DRYB, (see derived variables). There were problems with WETB drying out and there is no data 16/06/2009-08/10/2009. Before 1999 calculated from hygrometric tables.

VIS code Visibility 1928-1999

Recorded at 0900GMT.

Manual recording of visibility at time of observation. Codes 1962-1999: Code X = Dense fog. Visibility range 0-19m; CODE E = Dense fog. Visibility range 20-39m; CODE 0 = Thick fog. Visibility range 40-99m; CODE 1 = Thick fog. Visibility range 100-199m; CODE 2 = Thick fog. Visibility range 200-399m, CODE 3 = Moderate fog. Visibility range 400-999m; CODE 4 = Very poor visibility, range 1000-1999m; CODE 5 = Poor visibility, range 2000-3999m; CODE 6 = Moderate visibility, range 4-9km; CODE 7 = Good visibility, range 10-19km; CODE 8 = Very good visibility, range 20-39km; CODE 9 = Excellent visibility, range 40km or over.

Images

Key References

2017

For further information and assistance, please contact the e-RA curators, Sarah Perryman and Margaret Glendining using the e-RA email address: era@rothamsted.ac.uk