How to Determine Air Temperature by Cricket Chirps

Crickets have captivated humanity for thousands of years with their song. Their chirping, however, can serve as more than a mere backdrop to a cool night--it can also serve as a natural thermometer. As biological organisms, crickets are chirping in direct relation to air temperature, which means that with a little math, crickets can tell you how cool of a night it really is.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Focus on the chirps of a single cricket.

2. Count the number of chirps for 60 seconds, for example, 120 chirps.

3. Take the number of chirps in those 60 seconds and divide by four. In this example, 120/4=30.

4. Add 40 to determine the air temperature in Fahrenheit, so 30+40=70.

5. Compare the cricket-temperature to one listed on a thermometer and calibrate your future readings accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also count the chirps in 15 seconds and simply add 40. Counting for 60 seconds, however, ensures greater accuracy.