In-situ Sensing

In-situ sensing/measuring devices are in contact with the medium they are sensing. A thermometer is a very common in-situ sensor, whether it measures the oil temperature in your car’s engine, the ambient temperature of your home, or your internal body temperature. Numerous in-situ sensing devices are used to measure meteorological conditions. These devices can be found at ground level, in the water, or in the air. Some buoys, such as the one shown in the photo, measure certain meteorological conditions at sea Think of a hurricane reconnaissance plane flying inside a storm. It measures atmospheric pressure and winds in-situ You have probably seen devices in streams that measure water levels, such as the staff stream gauge in the bottom photo These are all in-situ measuring devices. Scientific devices are not the only in-situ sensors. Your hand functions as a dramatic example of an in-situ sensor when you grab the handle of a metal spoon accidentally left in a pot of boiling soup—OUCH!