While sitting on my front porch in the early afternoon today, I heard a single, very loud cricket chirping nearby. I recalled that the speed of their chirping is dependent on ambient temperature, but I couldn't remember the calculation. So I looked it up. It's called Dolbear's Law, described by a person named Dolbear.
Count the chirps per 15 seconds, then add 40. That gives you the approximate ambient temp in °F.
I counted 39. I added 40 + 39, to predict a temp or 79°F. I turned around to look at the analog thermometer on the porch. —> 80°F. Close enough!
Amos Dolbear was a physicist by training, and published his "law" in 1897. Bob's prediction from this "law" is that below 40°F, crickets never chirp.
Bob
Count the chirps per 15 seconds, then add 40. That gives you the approximate ambient temp in °F.
I counted 39. I added 40 + 39, to predict a temp or 79°F. I turned around to look at the analog thermometer on the porch. —> 80°F. Close enough!
Amos Dolbear was a physicist by training, and published his "law" in 1897. Bob's prediction from this "law" is that below 40°F, crickets never chirp.
Bob
