A field device for integrating temperature sensed in grass or forest fires

Abstract
A device for measuring the integrated temperature sensed by a thermocouple during a grass, forest or other landscape fire is described and its performance evaluated. It consists of a small tube containing an electronic circuit to which is attached a length of thermocouple wire. The tube is buried for the duration of the fire. Principal component of the circuit is an E‐cell (or microcoulometer) which when cleared allows calculation of the temperature/time integral. Performance was found to be reliable and accurate: because of its low cost it has widespread application for measuring the temperature in soil, plants or air during fires.