How to Compute Wind Speed

As air moves from one place to another, it sometimes picks up a fair amount of speed, sometimes even a dangerous amount of speed. When air is moving, it is called wind. Being able to measure the wind's speed allows people to determine the safety of certain activities in the wind. Read on to find out how to compute the wind's speed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Build or buy an anemometer. In order to determine wind speed, you need an instrument to measure how quickly the wind is moving. These devices are called anemometers.
2. Place your anemometer in a place that it is fully exposed to the wind. Be sure that there is nothing blocking the anemometer from the wind in any direction. A good place to place the device is on top of a building where it is open to the wind from all directions. You should know, though, that if you put the anemometer up too high, then you will be measuring the wind speed that's high in the atmosphere.
3. Consult the anemometer to see how many times it has rotated because of the wind.
4. Use a wind sock to determine how hard the wind is blowing. This is a more low-tech way of determining the wind's speed than the anemometer, but it can give you a good idea of how quickly the wind is moving.
5. Use the Beaufort Scale to determine how the wind is effecting objects that it is coming in contact with. This way of determining wind speed doesn't require any instruments.

Tips & Warnings

• Building your own anemometer can give you a better idea of how they work.
• Wind speed can cause damage to property.