We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Hardware

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is an Anemometer?

By Rebecca Partington
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 41,377
Share

An anemometer is a meteorological device that is used to measure wind velocity. Anemometers come in a variety of forms, but the simplest type is the cup anemometer. The cup anemometer consists of a vertical pole with four horizontal arms attached to the top. Cups are attached to the ends of the four arms, and the wind causes the cups to rotate the arms around the central pole. The cup anemometer is prone to friction, which makes it less accurate than the more advanced versions.

Cup anemometers, however, are sufficient for personal use. A person using one can calculate the wind speed by multiplying the cups' revolutions per minute by the circumference of the circle the cups create. The product will be a close estimate of the wind's speed per minute.

The windmill anemometer is similar to its namesake, the windmill, in that it must be parallel to the direction of the wind in order to work properly. A wind vane, attached to the tail of the anemometer, is pushed around until the propeller is facing into the wind. The wind then turns the propeller, which rotates a mechanism that calculates the wind speed.

A thermoelectric anemometer uses a very thin wire which is heated to a temperature that is higher than the temperature of the surrounding air. The wind cools the wire, and electronics within the body of the instrument calculate the wind speed based on the electrical resistance of the wire. Anemometers of this type are rather delicate instruments, but are also quite accurate at determining wind speed.

Laser Doppler and ultrasonic anemometers are high-tech and very accurate. Laser Doppler anemometers measure wind speed by detecting how much of the light from a laser beam has been reflected off of the moving air particles. Ultrasonic anemometers determine wind speed by sending sound waves between a pair of transducers and determining how their speed is affected. Because ultrasonic anemometers are capable of measuring both wind speed and wind direction, they are popular for use on ships, airplanes, meteorologists' weather stations, and scientific wind turbines.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By Othilia — On May 26, 2011

My husband flies model airplanes so we bought him a portable vane anemometer last year for his birthday. He loved it, but the holster broke last month and we can't find a new one. It's an Extech #407113 vane anemometer, heavy duty, if someone knows where we can find a new holster.

By Andrade — On May 24, 2011

Does anyone have any guidelines for how to build an anemometer? My son is planning to make a cup anemometer for his science fair project. He is having trouble finding specifications, such as cup angle, etc. I would love to hear from anyone that can help with this.

Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-an-anemometer.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.