The Anemometer:
The anemometer measures
wind velocity using a disk placed perpendicular to the
wind; the mechanical anemometer was invented in 1450 by Leon Battista
(Bonilla, 2007). However, Dr. John Thomas Romney Robinson
later re-invented a simpler cup anemometer in 1846 ("Robinson
Cup Anemometer", 2011). Robinson's version of the cup anemometer featured four cups, each
symmetrically mounted at the end of a horizontal arm ("Uses
of an Anemometer”,2009). In an anemometer, the cups catch the wind speed making
the central shaft spin (Howell, Kirkby, Tomlins, Hammonds, & Furnival, 2004,
p. 54). Although Robinson believed that with his design, the data would always
be correct regardless of the size of the cups, and length of arms, his thesis
was incorrect. Robinson’s design was problematic, and the size of the cups in
conjunction with their positions were necessary ("Uses of an Anemometer”,
2009).
wind velocity using a disk placed perpendicular to the
wind; the mechanical anemometer was invented in 1450 by Leon Battista
(Bonilla, 2007). However, Dr. John Thomas Romney Robinson
later re-invented a simpler cup anemometer in 1846 ("Robinson
Cup Anemometer", 2011). Robinson's version of the cup anemometer featured four cups, each
symmetrically mounted at the end of a horizontal arm ("Uses
of an Anemometer”,2009). In an anemometer, the cups catch the wind speed making
the central shaft spin (Howell, Kirkby, Tomlins, Hammonds, & Furnival, 2004,
p. 54). Although Robinson believed that with his design, the data would always
be correct regardless of the size of the cups, and length of arms, his thesis
was incorrect. Robinson’s design was problematic, and the size of the cups in
conjunction with their positions were necessary ("Uses of an Anemometer”,
2009).
Today
Ultrasound Anemometer
Today,
there are several anemometers that are used in meteorology. One being the
mechanical anemometer, which uses small propellers to power their generators
instead of spinning cups (Woodford, 2009). Another is the ultrasound
anemometer. This anemometer measures wind speed using high-frequency sounds
above the range humans can hear (Woodford, 2009). An ultrasound anemometer has
two or three pairs of sound transmitters and receivers mounted at right angles
to one another (Woodford, 2009).
Standing it in the wind, each transmitter constantly beams high-frequency sound to its
respective receiver (Woodford, 2009). Electronic circuits inside of the
anemometer measure the time it takes for the sound to make its journey from each
transmitter to the corresponding receiver (Woodford, 2009). This anemometer
measures the difference in the speeds of the beams, and uses that to figure out
how fast the wind is blowing (Woodford, 2009).
there are several anemometers that are used in meteorology. One being the
mechanical anemometer, which uses small propellers to power their generators
instead of spinning cups (Woodford, 2009). Another is the ultrasound
anemometer. This anemometer measures wind speed using high-frequency sounds
above the range humans can hear (Woodford, 2009). An ultrasound anemometer has
two or three pairs of sound transmitters and receivers mounted at right angles
to one another (Woodford, 2009).
Standing it in the wind, each transmitter constantly beams high-frequency sound to its
respective receiver (Woodford, 2009). Electronic circuits inside of the
anemometer measure the time it takes for the sound to make its journey from each
transmitter to the corresponding receiver (Woodford, 2009). This anemometer
measures the difference in the speeds of the beams, and uses that to figure out
how fast the wind is blowing (Woodford, 2009).