Australian Government - Bureau of Meteorology Home | About Us | Contacts | Help | Feedback |

Global | Australia | NSW | Vic. | Qld | WA | SA | Tas. | ACT | NT | Ant. |
Weather & Warnings | Hydrology | Climate | Numerical Prediction | About Services | Learn About Meteorology | Registered User Services |
Anemometer

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5
Main weather kit information page
Home || Anemometer | Barometer Type 1 | Barometer Type 2 | Compass | Hygrometer | Psychrometer | Rain Gauge | Thermometer | UV Meter | Venturi Meter | Idendify Clouds


anemometer

how to measure wind speed using a cup anemometer

 pdf version
Remove the clear plastic lid from the cup anemometer and decide which of the four scales of measurement you will use:
  • metres per second (m/s)
  • knots (kts)
  • the Beaufort scale
  • kilometres per hour (km/h)

Hold the instrument up, at arms length, like the Statue of Liberty, while the cups rotate in the wind. Press and hold the red button to lock the red indicator line in place. Lower the instrument and take the reading. Now release the red button.
Anemometer

Dos and Do nots

Tick Hold the anemometer up high so your body does not act as a wind-break, giving inaccurate readings.
Cross Do not spin the cups with your fingers because you may break the instrument.
Tick Replace the protective lid when the anemometer is not being used.

How it works

The most common types of cup anemometer have three or four cups. The wind pushes the cups, which turn the shaft they are connected to. The spin of the shaft is translated into wind speed readings by a system of gears.

Click here for information on the Beaufort Wind Scale


Home | About Us | Learn about Meteorology | Contacts | Search | Help | Feedback
Weather and Warnings | Climate | Hydrology | Numerical Prediction | About Services | Registered Users
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2009, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532)
Please note the Copyright Notice and Disclaimer statements relating to the use of the information on this site and our site Privacy and Accessibility statements. Users of these web pages are deemed to have read and accepted the conditions described in the Copyright, Disclaimer, and Privacy statements. Please also note the Acknowledgement notice relating to the use of information on this site. No unsolicited commercial email.