Finding The Temperature Without A Thermometer

[Khandro]

I was asked about the life-cycle of a cricket today, and looking it up I found this; 'Crickets chirp at different rates depending on their species and the temperature of their environment. Most species chirp at higher rates the higher the temperature is (approximately 62 chirps a minute at 13°C in one common species; each species has its own rate). The relationship between temperature and the rate of chirping is known as Dolbear's Law. According to this law, counting the number of chirps produced in 14 seconds by the snowy tree cricket common in the United States and adding 40 will approximately equal the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.'
It's not a question, and before I retire for the night, I just thought you might like to know :0)

[Cloverjo]

This was on a recent episode of QI - or not, might have been on Dave - but interesting anyway.

[mibn2cweus]

Although a thermometer (and perhaps a chronometer as well) might come in handy for helping to identify which species would be chirping at the corresponding rate.

[Hopkirk]

Well I'm glad you posted this because I have been trying to take my cricket's temperature, but he won't let me near him with the thermometer.

[Mosaic]

Hopkirk, if you try his armpit rather than his bottom he'll be more cooperative.

[Hopkirk]

Yes, he did seem a bit jumpy when I approached.

[Khandro]

Hopkirk; When you inserted the thermometer into his bottom, did the chirps get louder?
Really, such procedure just isn't cricket.

[1ozzy]

^^ Maybe not^^
I'll bet it bowled him over

[jim360]

Some of the wondrously weird laws of nature leave me stumped.

[RATTER15]

It was on "Big Bang Theory" Sheldon got it wrong!

Great comedy by the way!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjhMZEcnytQ

[boxtops]

I like this thread :-)

[grasscarp]

So I need to find a snowy tree cricket. time the chirps for 14 seconds..... do they chirp continuously then? what if it chirps a bit then gets tired? the temperature will be inaccurate.

[jim360]

It does say "approximate". If you want a true reading, take the temperature with a thermometer (actually several, to account for any systemic bias in a single badly-made thermometer). If you want a rough idea, listen to crickets.

[grasscarp]

why is there never a chirping cricket about when you need one?

[Khandro]

grasscarp; //why is there never a chirping cricket about when you need one?//
Exactly! I find snowy tree crickets are like buses: you stand around for ages waiting for one, and then suddenly, a whole load of them appear at once.

[grasscarp]

I am really getting in to this now. Here are not only photos, but recordings to practise with!
http://www.oecanthinae.com/4099.html

[naomi24]

I found a cricket sitting very quietly on a chair in my dining room the other day. I think it was too hot outside for him.

[Khandro]

I counted 23 chirps in 14 seconds, so add 40 and the temperature there when recorded must have been 63 Fahrenheit. Do your calculations concur?