The Beaufort scale /ˈboʊfərt/ is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or

on land. Its full name is the Beaufort wind force scale.

Contents
 1 History
 2 Modern scale
 3 See also
 4 References
 5 External links

History
The scale was devised in 1805 by Irish-born Francis Beaufort (later Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort), a
Royal Navy officer, while serving in HMS Woolwich. The scale that carries Beaufort's name had a long and
complex evolution from the previous work of others (including Daniel Defoe the century before) to when
Beaufort was Hydrographer of the Navy in the 1830s when it was adopted officially and first used during the
voyage of HMS Beagle under Captain Robert FitzRoy, later to set up the first Meteorological Office (Met
Office) in Britain giving regular weather forecasts.[1] In the early 19th century, naval officers made regular
weather observations, but there was no standard scale and so they could be very subjective – one man's "stiff
breeze" might be another's "soft breeze". Beaufort succeeded in standardizing the scale.

Sir Francis Beaufort

The initial scale of thirteen classes (zero to twelve) did not reference wind speed numbers but related qualitative
wind conditions to effects on the sails of a frigate, then the main ship of the Royal Navy, from "just sufficient to
give steerage" to "that which no canvas sails could withstand".[2]

The scale was made a standard for ship's log entries on Royal Navy vessels in the late 1830s and was adapted to
non-naval use from the 1850s, with scale numbers corresponding to cup anemometer rotations. In 1916, to
accommodate the growth of steam power, the descriptions were changed to how the sea, not the sails, behaved
and extended to land observations. Rotations to scale numbers were standardized only in 1923. George
Simpson, C.B.E. (Later Sir George Simpson), Director of the UK Meteorological Office, was responsible for
this and for the addition of the land-based descriptors.[1] The measure was slightly altered some decades later to
improve its utility for meteorologists. Today, many countries have abandoned the scale and use the metric
system based units, m/s or km/h, instead,[citation needed] but the severe weather warnings given to the public are still
approximately the same as when using the Beaufort scale.
The Beaufort scale was extended in 1946, when forces 13 to 17 were added.[3] However, forces 13 to 17 were
intended to apply only to special cases, such as tropical cyclones. Nowadays, the extended scale is only used in
Taiwan and mainland China, which are often affected by typhoons. Internationally, WMO Manual on Marine
Meteorological Services (2012 edition) defined the Beaufort Scale only up to Force 12 and there was no
recommendation on the use of the extended scale.[4]

Wind speed on the 1946 Beaufort scale is based on the empirical relationship:[5]

v = 0.836 B3/2 m/s

Where v is the equivalent wind speed at 10 metres above the sea surface and B is Beaufort scale number. For
example, B = 9.5 is related to 24.5 m/s which is equal to the lower limit of "10 Beaufort". Using this formula
the highest winds in hurricanes would be 23 in the scale.

Today, hurricane-force winds are sometimes described as Beaufort scale 12 through 16, very roughly related to
the respective category speeds of the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, by which actual hurricanes are
measured, where Category 1 is equivalent to Beaufort 12. However, the extended Beaufort numbers above 13
do not match the Saffir–Simpson Scale. Category 1 tornadoes on the Fujita and TORRO scales also begin
roughly at the end of level 12 of the Beaufort scale, but are independent scales – although the TORRO scale
wind values are based on the 3/2 power law relating wind velocity to Beaufort force.[6]

Wave heights in the scale are for conditions in the open ocean, not along the shore.

Modern scale
Beaufort Wind Wave Sea Associated
Description Land conditions Sea state photo
number speed height conditions warning flag
<
1 km/h
0m
<
1 mph Sea like a Calm. Smoke rises
0 Calm <1 mirror vertically.
knot
0 ft
< 0.3
m/s
1–5 km
/h 0–0.2 Ripples
1–3 mp m with the Smoke drift
h appearance indicates wind
1 Light air 1–3 of scales direction. Leaves
are formed, and wind vanes are
knots but without stationary.
0–1 ft
0.3–1.5  foam crests
m/s
2 Light breeze 6–11 k
m/h
Small Wind felt on
wavelets, exposed skin.
0.2–0.5
4–7 mp m still short Leaves rustle.
h but more Wind vanes begin
pronounced to move.
4–6 1–2 ft
; crests
knots
have a
1.6–3.3  glassy
m/s appearance
 and do not
12–19 
km/h 0.5–1 Large
8–12 m m wavelets.
Leaves and small
ph Crests
Gentle twigs constantly
3 breeze 7–10
begin to
moving, light flags
break;
knots extended.
2–3.5 ft scattered
3.4–5.5  whitecaps
m/s
20–28 
km/h Small
1–2 m waves with
13–18  Dust and loose
mph breaking
Moderate paper raised. Small
4 breeze 11–16
crests.
branches begin to
Fairly
knots move.
3.5–6 ft frequent
5.5–7.9  whitecaps.
m/s
29–38  Moderate
km/h waves of
2–3 m some Branches of a
19–24 
mph length. moderate size
5 Fresh breeze
17–21
Many move. Small trees
whitecaps. in leaf begin to
knots
6–9 ft Small sway.
8–10.7  amounts of
m/s spray.
39–49  Long
km/h waves
3–4 m begin to Large branches in
25–31 
mph form. motion. Whistling
White foam heard in overhead
22–27
Strong crests are wires. Umbrella
6 breeze
knots
very use becomes
frequent. difficult. Empty
10.8– 9–13 ft Some plastic bins tip
13.8 m/ airborne over.
s spray is
present.
50–61  Sea heaps
km/h 4–5.5 up. Some
32–38  m foam from
mph breaking
waves is
High wind, 28–33 Whole trees in
blown into
moderate knots motion. Effort
7 gale,
streaks
needed to walk
along wind
near gale 13–19 f direction. against the wind.
13.9– t
17.1 m/ Moderate
s amounts of
airborne
spray.
 62–74  Moderately
km/h 5.5–7.5 high waves
39–46  m with
mph breaking
crests
34–40
forming
knots
spindrift. Some twigs broken
Well- from trees. Cars
Gale,
8 fresh gale
marked veer on road.
streaks of Progress on foot is
18–25 f foam are seriously impeded.
17.2– t
20.7 m/ blown
s along wind
direction.
Considerab
le airborne
spray.
75–88  High waves
km/h whose
7–10 m crests
47-54 
mph sometimes
roll over. Some branches
41–47
Dense foam break off trees, and
knots
is blown some small trees
Strong/sever along wind blow over.
9 e gale direction. Construction/temp
23–32 f Large orary signs and
20.8– t amounts of barricades blow
24.4 m/ airborne over.
s spray may
begin to
reduce
visibility.
[7]
10 Storm, 89–102  Very high Trees are broken
whole gale km/h 9–12.5 waves with off or uprooted,
55–63  m overhangin structural damage
mph g crests. likely.
Large
48–55 29–41 f
patches of
knots t
foam from
24.5– wave crests
28.4 m/ give the sea
s a white
appearance.
Considerab
le tumbling
of waves
with heavy
impact.
Large
amounts of
airborne
spray
reduce
 visibility.
103– Exceptional
117 km ly high
/h 11.5– waves.
16 m Very large
64–72 
mph patches of
foam,
56–63
driven
knots
before the Widespread
Violent wind, cover vegetation and
11 storm much of the structural damage
sea surface. likely.
37–52 f Very large
28.5– t
32.6 m/ amounts of
s airborne
spray
severely
reduce
visibility.
≥ Huge
118 km waves. Sea
/h ≥ 14 m is
≥ completely
Severe widespread
73 mph white with
damage to
foam and
≥ 64 vegetation and
Hurricane spray. Air
12 force [7]
knots
is filled
structures. Debris
and unsecured
with
objects are hurled
≥ ≥ 46 ft driving about.
32.7 m/ spray,
s greatly
reducing
visibility.
References: Met Office, Royal Meteorological Society,[9] Encyclopædia Britannica[10]
[8]

The wind speeds in different units are not mathematically equivalent; e.g. 12–19 km/h is not equivalent to 8–
12 mph, and both are not equivalent to 7–10 knots. The reason is that the Beaufort scale is not an exact nor an
objective scale. It was based on visual and subjective observation of a ship and of the sea. The corresponding
integral wind speeds were determined later, but the values in different units were never made equivalent.

The scale is used in the Shipping Forecasts broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom, and in the Sea
Area Forecast from Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorological Service. Met Éireann issues a "Small Craft Warning"
if winds of Beaufort force 6 (mean wind speed exceeding 22 knots) are expected up to 10 nautical miles
offshore. Other warnings are issued by Met Éireann for Irish coastal waters, which are regarded as extending 30
miles out from the coastline, and the Irish Sea or part thereof: "Gale Warnings" are issued if winds of Beaufort
force 8 are expected; "Strong Gale Warnings" are issued if winds of Beaufort force 9 or frequent gusts of at
least 52 knots are expected.; "Storm Force Warnings" are issued if Beaufort force 10 or frequent gusts of at
least 61 knots are expected; "Violent Storm Force Warnings" are issued if Beaufort force 11 or frequent gusts
of at least 69 knots are expected; "Hurricane Force Warnings" are issued if winds of greater than 64 knots are
expected.

This scale is also widely used in the Netherlands, Germany,[11] Greece, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malta and
Macau, however with some differences between them. Taiwan uses the Beaufort scale with the extension to 17
noted above. China also switched to this extended version without prior notice on the morning of 15 May 2006,
[12]
and the extended scale was immediately put to use for Typhoon Chanchu. Hong Kong and Macau however
keep using force 12 as the maximum.

In the United States, winds of force 6 or 7 result in the issuance of a small craft advisory, with force 8 or 9
winds bringing about a gale warning, force 10 or 11 a storm warning ("a tropical storm warning" being issued
instead of the latter two if the winds relate to a tropical cyclone), and force 12 a hurricane-force wind warning
(or hurricane warning if related to a tropical cyclone). A set of red warning flags (daylight) and red warning
lights (night time) is displayed at shore establishments which coincide with the various levels of warning.

In Canada, maritime winds forecast to be in the range of 6 to 7 are designated as "strong"; 8 to 9 "gale force";
10 to 11 "storm force"; 12 "hurricane force". Appropriate wind warnings are issued by Environment Canada's
Meteorological Service of Canada: strong wind warning, gale (force wind) warning, storm (force wind)
warning and hurricane-force wind warning. These designations were standardized nationally in 2008, whereas
"light wind" can refer to 0 to 12 or 0 to 15 knots and "moderate wind" 12 to 19 or 16 to 19 knots, depending on
regional custom, definition or practice. Prior to 2008, a "strong wind warning" would have been referred to as a
"small craft warning" by Environment Canada, similar to US terminology. (Canada and the USA have the Great
Lakes in common.)

common.)

Beaufort Wind Scale

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Light Light Gentle Moderate Fresh Strong Near Strong Violent Hurricane
Calm Gale Storm
Air Breeze Breeze Breeze Breeze Breeze Gale Gale Storm Force
Hurricane-
Light Winds High Winds Gale-force Storm-force
force
18–24 mp 31–38 mp 39–46 mp 47-54 mp 55–63 mp
1–3 mph 8–12 mph 25–31 mph 64–72 mph
<1 mph 4–7 mph h h h h h
1–3 7–10 13–18 mph 22–27 56–63 ≥73 mph
<1 knot 4–6 knots 17–21 28–33 34–40 41–47 48–55
knots knots 11–16 knots knots knots ≥63 knots
<0.3 1.6–3.3 m knots knots knots knots knots
0.3–1.5  3.4–5.5 m 5.5–7.9 m/s 10.8–13.8  28.5–32.6  ≥32.7 m/s
m/s /s 8.0–10.7  13.9–17.1  17.2–20.7  20.8–24.4  24.5–28.4 
m/s /s m/s m/s
m/s m/s m/s m/s m/s

Keterangan pasang dan arus pasang : ditempatkan yang cukup jelas dan tidak menutupi keterangan
penting atau lalu lintas utama
 Apa yang dimaksud dengan :
Local direction of buoyage : adalah arah umum yang diambil navigator bila mendekati pelabuhan ,
sungai , teluk muara atau perairan lainya dari arah laut
General direction of buoyage : adalah arah yang ditetapkan pemerintah ,mengikuti arah jarum jam
mengelilingi daratan ,sebagai mana dijelaskan dalam sailing direction yang jika perlu ditunjukan pada
tanda panah di peta
Pilot chart ( peta  pandu ): peta yang berisikan lukisan berdasarkan fakta fakta maupun kesimpulan
dari penelitian navigasi cuaca dan oceanologi selama bertahun tahun,gunanya membantu seorang
navigator untuk memilih rute rute yang aman bagi kapalnya singkat serta baik.
Hal yang utama yang terdapat dalam peta pandu :
1.keadaan angin dan arus
2.prosentase topan ,keadaan tenang dan abut
3.route yang dianjurkan untuk kapal yang digerakan dengan kecepatan 3 macam ( high power vessel ,
medium power vessel , dan low power vessel )
4.isotrom ( untuk udara dan langit )
5.letak kapal stasiun samudera untuk pengamatan cuaca
6.isogone –isogone
7.Batas hanyutnya es dan masa es serta gunug es
Inter national date line : sebuah garis yang berjalan dari selatan ke utara mulai dari titik yang letaknya
80  sebelah timur dari new Zealand ,kekepulaun Samoa belok kekiri terus mengikuti derajah 180 0 tepat
sebelah selatan aleuten membelok kebarat laut lalu belk keutara timur laut terus keselat behring