Paranormal investigators use the devices to show presence of ghosts – or give their claims a gloss of plausibility

Years ago, weather stations were static installations, but these days all the necessary instrumentation can be packed into an electronic device no larger than a smartphone, providing a handy scientific device for meteorologists – and for spirit seekers.

Paranormal investigators associate cold spots or sudden drops in temperature with the presence of ghosts, and have long used wind chimes to detect drafts supposedly generated by spirits. Modern ghost hunters use devices such as the handheld Kestrel 3500NV, which measures temperature, pressure, relative humidity and wind speed. There is even a backlight for night-time use.