anemometer

An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station
instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind. The first known
description of an anemometer was given by Leon Battista Alberti around 1450.[1] They are also
very easy to make as a project. Anemometers can be divided into two classes: those that
measure the wind's speed, and those that measure the wind's pressure; but as there is a close
connection between the pressure and the speed, an anemometer designed for one will give
information about both.

Velocity anemometers:

Cup anemometers

Windmill anemometers

Hot-wire anemometers

Laser Doppler anemometers

Sonic anemometers

Ping-pong ball anemometers

Pressure anemometers

Plate anemometers

Tube anemometers

Effect of density on measurements

In the tube anemometer the pressure is measured, although the scale is usually graduated as a
velocity scale. In cases where the density of the air is significantly different from the calibration
value (as on a high mountain, or with an exceptionally low barometer) an allowance must be
made. Approximately 1½% should be added to the velocity recorded by a tube anemometer for
each 1000 ft (5% for each kilometer) above sea-level.

How do anemometers measure wind speed?

There are various types of anemometers, but the most common
model is the one with three or four cups attached to horizontal
arms. The arms are connected to a vertical rod.
The cups rotate, as the wind blows, causing the rod to revolve. As
the wind blows harder, the rod spins faster. The instrument
counts the rotations number, and these counts are used to
calculate the speed of the wind. As the wind varies in speed, like
breezes and calm winds, the wind speed is calculated by the
average over a limited period of time.
Another model with similar features is the windmill. The speed of
the wind is measured by counting the rotations made by the
blades. The rod of windmill anemometers spins horizontally.
There are anemometers which calculate the speed of the wind
differently. For example, the hot-wire anemometer works based
on the fact that the air chills a heated object when it blows over
it. You can relate to this by thinking about the refreshing feeling
of a breeze on a warm day.
This is how a hot-wire anemometer works — a thin wire, which is
electrically heated is placed in the wind. The amount of power
that is needed to maintain the wire hot is used to determine the
speed of the wind. In other words, the higher the wind speed, the
more power is needed to maintain the wire at a steady
temperature.
Air pressure can also be used in order to determine the wind
speed. Not to confuse things, the air pressure is calculated using
another instrument called a barometer. A tube anemometer
makes use of air pressure to measure the wind pressure and
speed. This instrument determines the pressure of the wind
within a glass tube which is closed at one end. The speed is
calculated by comparing the pressure outside the container to
the one inside.
There are other types of anemometers which measure the speed
of sound waves or shine laser beams on small particles in the
wind and calculate their effect.
How are anemometers used?
Anemometers are instruments used pretty much at all weather
stations, starting from the hot equatorial areas, to the cold Arctic
regions. The wind speed is essential to register changes in
weather patterns, like impending storms, which are crucial to
climatologists, pilots or engineers.
Physicists and aerospace engineers use anemometers frequently.
They mostly use a type of anemometer in velocity experiments.
Velocity is determined by the rate and direction of change in the
state of an object.
Engineers use laser anemometers to learn the speed of the wind
around moving objects such as airplanes, cars, or spacecraft, for
example. The reason why engineers use anemometers is to offer
aerodynamic features and design to these vehicles.
Accuracy of anemometers
If you come to think about it, measuring and determining things
is pretty much the foundation of science. A suitable anemometer
can provide a wind speed accuracy to about ±1mph. However, it
is essential to always take into consideration that the speed of
the wind is not even, as it varies all the time.
The determination matters in a tunnel where the speed is steady,
but in other environments, you can consider the measurement a
rough guide on how quickly the air is moving.
If you watch a weather forecast carefully, you will notice that they
basically present a range of wind speeds that are likely to be
reached on a specific day. In truth, nobody can state with
certainty how fast the air is going to move to a particular place,
as it depends very much on the local geography: trees, houses,
hills, or valleys that may funnel the wind.

A conventional three-cup anemometer only

measures wind speed, but there are two main ways
to measure wind direction as well:
 One of the cups can have an attached tag to alter the wind force on it,
making the anemometer speed up and slow down once per cycle, creating a
cyclic pulsation. Wind direction can be determined based on the angular position
of the anemometer when each of these effects occurs.
  Another option is to simply complement the anemometer with a wind vane
to determine wind direction. An advantage of mounting both devices together is
measuring wind speed and direction at the same spot.

The vane anemometer or propeller anemometer is another common variant of

this device, with the appearance of a miniature wind turbine. A vane anemometer
is equipped with a wind vane that always keeps it pointing in the direction from
which the wind is blowing. Wind speed is calculated based on propeller speed,
just like with the cup anemometer. The difference that the axis of rotation is
parallel to the wind (it is perpendicular in a cup anemometer). A vane
anemometer can also deliver simultaneous wind speed and direction data.

HOW AN ANEMOMETER MEASURES WIND SPEED

A cup anemometer is characterised by simplicity: the rotating speed of its shaft is
proportional to wind speed, which means the average speed is also proportional
to the number of turns during a specified timeframe. The ratio of wind speed and
shaft speed is called the anemometer factor, and it varies depending on the
physical construction of the unit, typically ranging from 2 to 3. Wind speed is
calculated as follows:

 Instantaneous Wind Speed = Anemometer Factor x Instantaneous

Shaft Speed

 Average Wind Speed = Anemometer Factor x (Number of Turns /

Time)

The sampling frequency of an anemometer describes how often the unit takes a
wind speed measurement. For example, an anemometer with a frequency of 0.1
Hz counts the number of turns over a 10-second period to provide a speed value.
While another with a 1-Hz frequency counts the turns once per second.
Anemometers with a higher sampling frequency provide a more detailed wind
profile. Since they can capture short-term changes in wind speed, which are
averaged when the sampling period is longer.