Anemometers As Wind Speed Indicators

for Home Weather Forecasting

wireless weather station image

Anemometer definition: The Greek word for "wind" is "anemos." A meter is an instrument for measuring something, therefore an "anemometer" is an instrument used to measure wind speed. It is not used for the purpose of measuring wind direction though. That particular indicator is called a weather vane or wind vane. Often, weather vanes are attached to an anemometer, as in the picture on the left, but they are a completely different weather instrument.

What specifically does the anemometer measure? Wind velocity or wind speed, at a particular time. From various measurements, placed in several locations, one can ascertain the average wind speed for a given area.

Anemometers have been around for, literally, hundreds of years, first being recognized in Europe and then, of course, spreading to the Americas afterward. The original anemometers were nothing like the traditional type of four cup instrument that was invented in 1850 by Thomas Romney Robinson, an American. The Robinson anemometer is considered the "traditional" main stay or standard for this weather measuring instrument.

A traditional wind anemometer is made up of spoon-like cups extending, horizontally, on short rods, from a central hub. There are usually either 3 or four of these "cups" and they catch the wind, causing the hub to rotate. The wind speed is determined by the number of times the hub goes around. Originally, different anemometers, spun at different rates but each user or maker of the anemometer determined the speed using his or her own calculations. Though the process was the same, the size of each of the blades or cups was different and thus, the calculations were different.

Once Robinson invented the four cup anemometer, all standards were designed around his specifications and thus, the modern anemometer standards still exist.

Contemporary weather anemometers are no longer just the traditional cup measurement devices. Today many of them are electronic anemometers or ultrasonic anemometers. Though the traditional cup style anemometer is still very much in use, it is not unusual that the results are provided in electronic impulses as the instrument is connected to a computer and all data is converted to digital form. This type of weather anemometer is much more accurate than the traditional analog type.

Also available are hand held or personal anemometers which are small, box-like devices that are very accurate with winds below 100 mph. Many of these tools can also read wind chill and temperatures.

Many hobbyists actually make their own anemometers and use them on a daily basis. Directions for making one can easily be found by searching the Internet.

Every amateur weather forecaster should include an anemometer in their list of required instruments in order to acquire a complete weather station for watching and predicting the weather.

There are several different types of handheld anemometer instruments available. One is the Omega HHF81, 4-IN-1 Air Velocity Meter - Anemometer, Hygrometer, Light Meter, Thermometer. This multi-purpose instrument is available for about $159.

Another great multi-tasking instrument is the Reliability Direct AR 816 digital anemometer. The listed price on this particular model is just $54.

For those who want to measure air volume, air speed and air temperature, there is the Extech model 407119. This machine can be found online and the price that is quoted is $469.99.

There are a number of different models and styles available, as well as more complicated models that can cost anywhere from a few dollars to upwards of thousands. The price will depend on the type of model and the various functions included with each.