How is wind speed measured? * Nature

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Wind is an amazing natural phenomenon that occurs not only on Earth, but also on other planets. The last parameter is quite important, so people have learned to measure it over time. How is this done, and what devices are needed for this?

How does the wind appear

First you need to figure out where in principle the wind appears in nature. During the day, certain areas on the surface of the Earth are heated to different temperatures. Hot air rises from the surface, and the colder one replaces it, which also gradually becomes warm.

Due to this unevenness, a difference in pressure appears between the air layers. This is the reason for the appearance of wind. He begins to blow from the area with high pressure in the direction where this parameter is less.

Interesting fact: Wind speed directly depends on the pressure difference in the regions. The higher it is, the airflow will move faster.

How is wind speed measured?

To determine how quickly air flows move, use a special device - an anemometer. The first samples of the device appeared in the XV century. The Italian scientist Leon Alberti in 1450 made a simple anemometer, the main element of which was a simple board on a rope. She turned flat in the direction of the wind and deviated under its influence at a certain degree. The latter was converted to speed.

Now there are several types of anemometers:

cup - at the heart of the design are four symmetrically located bowls that rotate on the rotor under the influence of wind;
vane - here the wheel rotates, which interacts with gears that set the arrow on the scale in motion;
thermal - the principle of operation is based on lowering the temperature of a heated body under the influence of wind;
ultrasonic - measures the speed of sound, which varies depending on the strength and direction of the air flow.

Each type of anemometer is used in a specific area.

Wind speed is measured using an anemometer - a special device that captures the movement of air currents. Thanks to the design features, he is able to determine at what speed they move.

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