Final answer:
The statement is false; official temperature measurements are taken using thermometers shielded from direct sunlight, often in white ventilated shelters, to accurately measure ambient temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Official temperature measurements are made in black, sealed boxes placed on the ground surface in direct sunlight.' is false. Official measurements of temperature, particularly for weather stations, are taken using thermometers that are shielded from direct sunlight. Weather stations use instruments placed inside ventilated shelters, often painted white to reflect sunlight and provide a uniform environment for measuring ambient air temperature. The shields prevent direct sunlight from heating the thermometer, which would result in a reading higher than the true air temperature. Similarly, these thermometers are also placed at a standard height above the ground to avoid heat radiated from the surface.
Exposure to direct sunlight or being sealed in a black box would cause the thermometer to absorb additional heat, leading to erroneous temperature readings. Therefore, it is crucial for accurate temperature measurement that the thermometer is properly shielded and exposed to free-flowing air to measure the temperature that the human body would experience in the shade, which is the ambient temperature.