- Equipment -
Thermometers

What are Laser Thermometers?

Basically an instrument used to measure both the background temperature of a room/environment, and any subsequent fluctuations. These can then be rationalised if possible and explained as natural occurrences, with those that cannot be explained this way possibly indicating paranormal activity.

Why use them for paranormal research?

The feeling and measuring of cold spots is one of the most commonly experienced and reported signs of paranormal activity, of special interest if combined with other sensations or phenomenon. A background reading should be taken at the start of the investigation and during the course of the night, so that this can be compared with any fluctuations reported or measured. The best method to do this is to combine static thermometers left in the same position in each room or area to be investigated, and a hand held laser thermometer to give an instant reading of the fluctuation. A weather station, which uses multiple remote sensors, can be used to measure the maximum and minimum readings over the course of the night and will allow (provided it is within range) remote monitoring of temperature and humidity. Other useful tools include hygrometers to measure levels of humidity and barometers to measure atmospheric pressure. There are several schools of thought that suggest unusual humidity or pressure readings may, as with temperature readings indicate the presence of ghosts or spirits. A final benefit of a weather station is that this will also indicate the cycle of the moon, another proposed indicator of the level of paranormal activity. By collating this data, over time you may be able to ascertain a relationship between these factors and the level of paranormal activity.

What if I get an unusual reading?

The first thing to do in the event of obtaining a significant fluctuation in either humidity or temperature is to try and come up with a rational explanation. Outdoor locations by their nature will provide natural changes in both temperature and humidity. Whilst an old castle or manor house will have drafts etc. that could lead to temperature drops and will of course become colder during the night, or warm up and become more humid with the amount of investigator's bodies packed into a room. The majority of fluctuations can be explained in this way, however those that appear to be for no good reason, especially if combined with other signs of potential paranormal activity are the ones we should all be interested in. A final note of caution is to regularly check instruments for malfunctions such as flat batteries or loss of calibration. A good way to check this is to compare the readings of all thermometers being used when conducting base line tests at the start of an investigation for any differences in readings. This should be done by leaving them all in the same room to settle for some time before checking the readings, ideally a room without drafts or the passing of bodies through.

Can Thermometers be used to prove the existance of ghosts or the paranormal?

The jury is still out on this one! Cold spots are a frequently reported phenomenon at haunted locations, however how often does one become too cold or too hot naturally when not investigating a haunted location? Multiply this by the number of investigators present, taking into account the fact that not all of them will yet be used to how their body reacts to the unusual practice of staying awake all night, so most of the feelings or readings should be taken with caution. That said, if compared to the baseline tests and ruling out faulty equipment, if a severe change is measured and combined with other findings, this could indicate the presence of paranormal activity. This is especially so if a similar fluctuation is measured in the same spot several times.