For routine observations of air temperature, including maximum, minimum and wet-bulb liquid-in-glass thermometers are commonly used. Such thermometers make use of the differential expansion of a pure liquid with respect to its glass container to indicate the temperature. The stem is a tube having a fine bore attached to the main bulb: The volume of liquid in the thermometer is such that the bulb is filled completely but the stem is only partially filled at all temperatures to be measured. The changes in volume of the liquid with respect to its container are indicated by changes in the length of liquid in the stem; by calibration with respect to a standard thermometer, a scale of temperature can be marked on the stem, or on a separate scale tightly attached to the stem.
