Feb. 5, 2006 | Weather | WGNTV.com | WGN TV

Feb. 5, 2006

Dear Tom, I remember that you once told the viewers how to determine the air temperature by counting cricket chirps. Can you refresh my memory? Steve Gelbke, Phoenix, Ariz. Dear Steve, The relationship between cricket chirps and air temperature is a simple one, and while not precise, it will generally yield a close approximation to the actual temperature. Crickets are cold-blooded, so their body temperature changes with that of the environment. As the air temperature rises or falls, so does the cricket's body temperature, resulting in a corresponding increase or decrease in its metabolism. As the metabolic processes change, so does the frequency of chirping--the sound produced when crickets rub their wings together. The formula for determining the ambient temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit): Count the number of cricket chirps in 15 seconds and add 39.