Anemometer
An anemometer is an instrument that is used to measure wind speed, they can also be used to measure wind pressure, wind flow and wind direction. They are a common component part of weather stations and sometimes seen on rooftops or high buildings.
The simplest type of anemometer has a spinning wheel, which spins faster as the wind blows stronger the number and speed of rotations, is used to calculate wind speed. There are however many different types of anemometer which include the afore mentioned cup anemometers, vane anemometers, hot-wire anemometers, ping-pong ball anemometers as well as laser doppler, ultrasonic and acoustic resonance anemometers.
The term anemometer is taken from Greek; anemos for wind, and is used to define any wind-speed device, originally called an anemoscope. Leon Battista Alberti (1404 - 1472) from Genoa, Italy, is generally credited with having invented the pressure plate anemometer for measuring wind speed in 1450. Though Leonardo da Vinci further developed the device to support his passion for flying, giving an indication also of wind direction.
See also:
- Air capture hood.
- Pilot tube.
- Rotating vane anemometer.
- Differential pressure anemometer.
- Powered flow hood.
- Thermal anemometer.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Weather.
- Adverse weather.
- Balometer.
- Barometer.
- Climate.
- Cold stress.
- Drought.
- Exceptionally adverse weather.
- Excess cold.
- Extraordinary weather event.
- Extreme weather.
- Extreme weather event.
- Fire weather.
- Flood.
- Heat wave.
- Hurricane.
- Monsoon.
- Overheating.
- Solar radiation.
- Rainfall.
- Thermal comfort.
- Tropical cyclone.
- Wind.
Featured articles and news
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.