Final answer:
In aviation under IFR, it's essential to add a temperature correction to altitude readings to maintain accurate and safe flight, as colder temperatures can lead to discrepancies between true and indicated altitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When conducting instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in aviation, especially in colder weather, it is critical to add a temperature correction to altitude readings to ensure accuracy. This is because cold temperatures can cause the true altitude of an aircraft to be lower than the indicated altitude, leading to potential safety risks such as terrain clearance issues. The pyrometer example mentioned, which uses infrared radiation to measure temperature, illustrates how sensitive instruments are to temperature variations. While the pyrometer is used for different applications, the principle behind the necessity for temperature compensation remains significant in various technologies, including those in aviation.