Thermometer

      As summer is wrapping up, and fall approaches, I was thinking about the thermometer. Common enough device, which has been around for a while. Even if there are some new spins on it. Case in point, mine is wireless, so I can stick the actual thermometer outside and read it while inside. Which is rather convenient, although I sometimes have to do some logic checking.

      Earlier this summer the thermometer reported 107°F. Now I’m confident enough in the reading to say that was the actual temperature at it’s location. But I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the temperature in the larger area.

      I’ve noticed the outdoor thermometer usually reports high for a little while most evenings. A short spike to unreasonably high numbers, before dropping back in line with what it actually feels like. Not a new phenomenon, I can remember Mom’s doing the same thing when I was growing up.

      I’m pretty sure the sun is the driving factor here. But I could see black asphalt and reflections from windows/metal also playing a part. To name just a few of the factors that could be contributing.

      Which is fine. Knowing the thermometer is accurate enough for 23.75 hours a day is good enough. Especially as that window of inaccurateness is roughly the same time each day.

      It does illustrate that we need to logic check our tools. They can be 100% accurate for the situation they are in, yet hopelessly off the target in the greater context. It falls to us to sort out the difference. My thermometer certainly can’t do it. It just reports what it feels, that single data point.