Experimental and Casework Validation of Ambient Temperature Corrections in Forensic Entomology

• NCJ Number: 239644
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2012 Pages: 215-221
• Author(s): Aidan P. Johnson, B.Sc.; James F. Wallman, Ph.D.; Melanie S. Archer, Ph.D.
• Date Published: January 2012
• Length: 7 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Australian Federal Police; University of Wollongong
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper expands on Archer (J Forensic Sci 49, 2004, 553), examining additional factors affecting ambient temperature correction of weather station data in forensic entomology.

Abstract

This paper expands on Archer (J Forensic Sci 49, 2004, 553), examining additional factors affecting ambient temperature correction of weather station data in forensic entomology. Sixteen hypothetical body discovery sites (BDSs) in Victoria and New South Wales (Australia), both in autumn and in summer, were compared to test whether the accuracy of correlation was affected by (i) length of correlation period; (ii) distance between BDS and weather station; and (iii) periodicity of ambient temperature measurements. The accuracy of correlations in datasets from real Victorian and NSW forensic entomology cases was also examined. Correlations increased weather data accuracy in all experiments, but significant differences in accuracy were found only between periodicity treatments. The authors found that a greater than 5 degrees C difference between average values of body in situ and correlation period weather station data was predictive of correlations that decreased the accuracy of ambient temperatures estimated using correlation. Practitioners should inspect their weather datasets for such differences. Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.