The document discusses using an infrared thermometer to measure surface temperatures. It explains that surface temperature varies based on factors like ground cover and time of day. It provides instructions on how to use an infrared thermometer to collect temperature readings from different surfaces around your community and includes example infrared images showing temperature differences in landscapes, objects, and animals.

1. Explore Your Environment
with an Infrared
Thermometer!
Special thanks to: Spitzer Science Center’s (SSC) Infrared Processing &
Analysis Center (IPAC), California Institute of Technology

2. The Atmosphere
• Extremely thin blanket of
air extending about 200
miles from Earth’s surface
to the edge of space.
• Earth’s atmosphere
protects us and all living
things on Earth from
dangerous radiation from
the Sun.

3. Surface
Temperature
• Is the radiating heat from Earth’s
surface including vegetation,
paved surfaces, and the ground,
etc.
• Varies depending on the ground
cover and the time of day
• Affects all aspects of the Earth’s
Energy Budget (the flow of
incoming and outgoing energy
dependent on land, oceans, and
air systems)

4. Notice the difference in
heat radiation in this city
landscape.
Not all surfaces have the same
temperature!

5. Find out more about
NASA’s MODIS Imagery
You can help verify surface temperature
readings collected by NASA satellites

6. What is surface temperature like
in your type of community?

7. Measures infrared (heat) radiation emanating
from a surface and converts it to temperature.
Surface temperature can be observed by sensing the infrared
part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Instrument: Infrared (IR)
Thermometer

8. Collecting Data
Using an Infrared
Thermometer
HOW?
• Hold your arm at
arms length and point
the instrument at the
ground. After you pull
the trigger then read
the value including
the tenths of a degree
Celsius.
WHEN?
• Surface
temperature
measurements can be
taken any time during
the day.

9. Do not take the temperature of
shadowed areas including the
shadow that your body may cast.
Extend your arm in front of
you to take the observations.
You don’t want to measure
the temperature of your
feet.
.
Avoid Your Shadow and Your Feet!

10. The World in Infrared
Boiling WaterIce Cube in Water

11. What’s
Under
the
Plastic
Bag?

12. Infrared
Image

13. Landscape in Visible & Infrared
Light

14. Infrared at the Zoo - Meerkats

15. Infrared at the Zoo - Crocs

16. Infrared at Home – Pet Lizard

17. Infrared at the Zoo - Emu

18. Infrared at the Zoo - Tiger

19. Infrared at Home -
Pet Dog

20. Artist Concept: NASA’s Spitzer Spacecraft
NASA’s Spitzer Telescope “Sees” through
the Dust to Answer the Question:
Where do stars and planets
come from?
 Spitzer is the largest
infrared telescope ever
launched into space.
 Many areas of space are
filled with vast, dense clouds
of gas and dust which block
our view.
 Infrared (IR) light, can
penetrate these clouds,
allowing us to peer into
regions of star formation
and into newly forming
planetary systems.