Wind

Wind direction
Wind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates. For example, a northerly wind
blows from the north to the south. Wind direction is usually reported in cardinal directions. Wind
direction is measured in degrees clockwise from the north. Consequently, a wind blowing from the
north has a wind direction of 0°; a wind blowing from the east has a wind direction of 90°; a wind
blowing from the south has a wind direction of 180°, and a wind blowing from the west has a wind
direction of 270°. Wind direction is measured using a wind vane. Sited on a high pole or roof of a
building to allow free flow of air.

DRAW: Wind vane

Pointer

Tail

Cardinal Points

Examples of wind vanes:

Feature Use
Pointer/ arrow Shows where the wind is blowing from

Tail/ paddle Has a wider surface area to catch the wind and force the arrow
into the wind
Cardinal points To help identify the direction of the wind
Windsocks:
A windsock, or wind cone, is a conical textile tube that resembles a giant sock. Windsocks can be used
as a basic guide to wind direction and speed. The larger opening of a windsock faces the direction that
the wind is blowing from.
Windsocks can also be used to measure wind speed. Wind speed is indicated by the windsock's angle
relative to its pole; in low winds, the windsock droops; in high winds it flies horizontally.

Examples of a windsock:
In situations where modern instruments are not available, an index finger can be used to test the
direction of the wind. This is accomplished by wetting the finger and pointing it upwards. The side of
the finger that feels "cool" is (approximately) the direction from which the wind is blowing. The "cool"
sensation is caused by an increased rate of evaporation of the moisture on the finger due to the airflow
across the finger, and consequently the "finger technique" of measuring wind direction does not work
well in either very humid or very hot conditions.

Another technique for measuring wind direction is to take a pinch of grass and drop it; the direction
that the grass falls is the direction the wind is blowing. This last technique is often used by golfers
because it allows them to gauge the strength of the wind.

A technique commonly used by sailors is to listen for the wind. By turning one's face to a point roughly
towards the wind origin, one can listen for the point when the wind sounds equally strong on both ears.
This technique accounts for the vessel's current motion, and therefore allows sailors to find the closest
point of sail before their vessel will fall in irons.
Wind Speed
Wind speed is measured using an anemometer/ cup anemometer. The anemometer has little cups on
it that rotate when the wind blows. The three cups are supported on a tall shaft, so that the slowing
effect on the wind of friction with the ground will be minimised. The wind blows against the cups
causing a spindle to rotate and the number of revolutions is recorded on a meter (or dial) to give the
speed of the wind in kilometers per hour (km/hr). The faster the wind blows the faster the cups turn.

DRAW: Cup Anemometer

Examples of cup anemometers

It is possible to estimate wind speed without an anemometer. This is done by observing the way certain
objects are moved by the wind and using a Beaufort Scale to draw conclusions.

COPY:

Location of an anemometer
• Anemometers and wind vanes should both be sited on poles 10m above the ground to avoid gusts
and ground friction.

• They should be in an open space, at least three times the height of the nearest obstacle away from it
(e.g., if a tree is 10m high, the instrument pole should be sited at least 30 metres away from it).

• In urban areas, they often must be placed on top of buildings.

Anemometer and wind vane calculations

Winds direction and wind speed for a specific place can be shown on a wind rose. It is a circle with
rectangles coming out from the centre. The direction of the rectangles represents the points of the
compass. The lengths of those rectangles are determined by the number of days that had the wind
coming from that direction. Sometimes the colour of the rectangles can represent the wind speed, but
this is not always included in the diagram.
ACTIVITY: Draw the wind rose below (give yourself enough space) and complete it using the
information provided in the table. Identify what the pattern is showing about the wind direction during
February.

Wind direction Days of the Month of February

N 1, 24, 24, 26,
NE 4, 5, 6, 7, 27, 28, 29
E 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
SE 2, 17, 18,19
S 20, 21, 22
SW 23
W 3
NW

NB: Wind roses are different, it is important to be able to read any wind rose as well as draw or your
own or complete one using given information.