| A handheld anemometer is very reliable devices | | | | stations for meteorological purposes. There are |
| that can help anyone make their own wind | | | | five types of anemometers: |
| readings. It is very handy that you can easily slip | | | | - Hot Wire Anemometer |
| it inside your pocket. Developed during the 15th | | | | - Sonic Anemometer |
| century, anemometers of today have very much | | | | - Laser Doppler Anemometer |
| improved since then. The term "anemometer" is | | | | - Windmill Anemometer |
| from the Greek word "anemos" which means | | | | - Cup Anemometer |
| "wind". | | | | The Handheld Anemometer |
| The History of Anemometers | | | | A handheld anemometer or personal anemometer |
| The first anemometers appeared in Italy and in | | | | is a small device, usually only a few inches in |
| Northern Europe before spreading to the | | | | length width, that is able to measure wind very |
| Americas. They were very simple and ingeniously | | | | accurately (within %5). Most handheld |
| designed. It composed of a single flat disc which | | | | anemometers are capable of performing the |
| would shake in accordance to the winds motion. | | | | following: |
| By looking at the inclination of the disc, the people | | | | - Measures wind speed (measures up to 100mph |
| could determine the degree of the wind pressure. | | | | easily) in mph, km/h, m/s or Knots - Read wind |
| By mid 19th century, more sophisticated | | | | chill and temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius - |
| anemometers were being used as cups were | | | | Easily display wind readings - Not easily affected |
| attached to the ends of a wind vane. When wind | | | | by strong wind and sudden change of direction |
| rose it would be caught by the cups making the | | | | Some personal anemometers have additional |
| vane turn. The number revolutions of the vane | | | | features to make the device more appealing. |
| were recorded for readings. This kind of | | | | Some brands sell anemometers with a |
| anemometer is still being used today. A similar | | | | waterproof casing and are able to float on water. |
| version of this type spins like a wind mill | | | | Others have included the Beufort Scale for the |
| (vertically) instead of the traditional vertical | | | | readings while others are even drop tested to |
| spinning. | | | | make sure that the product will not easily break. |
| Modern anemometers are very impressive | | | | Most handheld anemometers are built to not be |
| devices that can give you accurate wind readings | | | | affected by the changing directions of strong |
| on an LCD display. They use not only the wind to | | | | gusts of wind. |
| make the readings but also the movement of | | | | Who can benefit from using a handheld |
| sound waves, the detection of particles through | | | | anemometer? |
| laser beams, and the measurement of thermal | | | | The handheld anemometer is a very convenient |
| energy. | | | | device for anyone who needs wind reading. Some |
| What can an anemometer do? | | | | examples of people who benefit from this kind of |
| The anemometer is basically a device used to | | | | anemometer are: engineers, people who take kite |
| measure the speed of wind. Modern | | | | flying seriously, wind surfers, and climbers. |
| anemometers not only measure wind speed but | | | | Both professionals and amateurs can benefit from |
| also different aspects of the wind such as: | | | | using a handheld anemometer. Since it is handy |
| humidity, temperature and pressure. | | | | weather watchers can easily make their own |
| Anemometers are usually used in weather | | | | weather forecasts confidently. |