 An anemometer is an instrument used to measure wind speed. Generally, an anemometer also has a wind vane to measure the wind direction. The most common form of this instrument is a cup anemometer, which has a vertical axis and three cups which capture the wind. Remote sensors then relay the information to the base display.
There are other types of anemometers, but they are not commonly used in consumer-level weather sensors and stations. Ultrasonic anemometers measure the phase shift of sound; laser anemometers measure the phase shift of the laser light, and hot-wire anemometers measure the temperature difference between two wires (one in the wind, and one out of the wind).
The significant advantage of non-mechanical anemometers may be that they are less sensitive to icing and other mechanical issues, such as corrosion. |
