Data Logging & Environmental Baseline Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Data Logging & Environmental Baseline flashcards as text
Which software feature is most valuable when reviewing multi-channel environmental data logs after an investigation?
Answer: Overlaid time-synchronized graphs that display multiple sensor channels simultaneously
Overlaid multi-channel graphs allow investigators to visually identify whether anomalies on different sensors occurred simultaneously, supporting or weakening a paranormal hypothesis.
What is the significance of noting solar geomagnetic activity (K-index) in a paranormal investigation log?
Answer: Elevated geomagnetic activity can cause elevated natural EMF fluctuations, potentially mimicking anomalies
A high K-index (geomagnetic storm) can elevate background EMF and interfere with compass-based devices, providing a natural explanation for otherwise puzzling magnetic anomalies.
An investigator is using a standalone data logger that stores data internally. What is the critical step before beginning any investigation session?
Answer: Clear previous session data and verify the internal clock is accurately set
Clearing old data prevents session contamination and an accurate internal clock ensures timestamps correlate correctly with other devices and records.
Why is it important to photograph the exact placement of each data logger at the start of an investigation?
Answer: To create a reproducible record enabling future investigators to replicate placement and compare results
Photographic documentation of logger positions enables replication of the experimental setup and helps explain anomalies that may be tied to specific environmental features nearby.
A data log shows an abrupt temperature drop of 8°F lasting 45 seconds in one area. Which mundane cause should investigators check FIRST?
Answer: An HVAC vent, window draft, or door being opened nearby
Brief localized temperature drops are most commonly caused by air conditioning vents, drafts from doors or windows, or cold air intrusion from adjacent spaces.
What is the recommended practice when a data logger battery fails mid-investigation?
Answer: Note the exact time of failure in the investigation log, replace battery, and mark the data gap clearly in records
Documenting equipment failures and gaps maintains data integrity, allowing analysts to account for missing intervals rather than drawing false conclusions from incomplete records.
Which baseline measurement is specifically useful for identifying potential geological explanations for EMF anomalies in rural investigation sites?
Answer: Geomagnetic soil surveys or naturally occurring piezoelectric rock formations
Certain rock types (e.g., quartz-bearing granite) produce piezoelectric effects under pressure, generating measurable EMF that can be mistaken for paranormal activity.