Thermal

Thermal evidence is evidence that has to do with temperature.  Temperature fluctuations commonly occur in haunted locations.  A theory exists that entities use thermal energy to manifest themselves causing a cold spot.  Thermal hits can be tracked using i.r. probe thermometers.  Probe thermometers use i.r. Technology to determine ambient heat in a room as opposed to the temperature of an object with traditional thermometers.  When you pick up on a thermal hit you need to track where it is coming from, and see if it is free standing or if it is coming from somewhere.  If you can track it to a door, window, or a crack on the wall it is most likely a draft and must be thrown out as evidence.  Sometimes you can trace the shape of the cold spot and fallow it around the room if it moves.  I have witnessed the shape of a person sitting in a chair, and have also seen a thermal hit "walk" around a room while an investigator tracked it.  Thermal hits are difficult to submit as evidence because it is difficult to document them properly.  While thermometers provide a reading there is no physical way to document that temperature unless you are willing to spend a lot of money.  You can use a data logger that records temperature and humidity of a room from the start to finish.  You can also get a thermal camera that measures heat and displays an image with different colors representing changes in temperature.  Thermal cameras can catch the shape of the cold/hot spot.  In rare occasions you can see an image of a person walking or standing that the i.r. cameras did not pick up.  Keep in mind that heat has a tendency to reflect off of certain surfaces.  Before you start your recording remember to look for glass and mirrors and other reflective surfaces and keep them in mind when investigating.  Thermal evidence when documented properly is good evidence because it is hard to fake without specialized equipment, and it is difficult to alter thermal evidence.

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