Name_________________________
Teacher: Mr. Dan Strina
McCaig Elementary School
WIND- NOTES
Wind is the movement of air around the earth.
It is basically caused by the uneven heating of the earth's surface.
Warmer, lighter air is pushed along by heavier, cooler air. Other
factors affecting wind include whether the particular place is close to
land or water, the seasons of the year, the topography of a place, etc..
Wind direction is measured by a wind vane which is an arrow
mounted on top of an elevated site. The wind vane is designed so
that its arrow points into the wind. With a compass aligned with the
arrow, one can determine the direction of the wind.
Wind speed or velocity is measured with either an anemometer or
radar. The anemometer, pictured above, consists of several cups
mounted sideways and extended out on a rotating axis or pole. The
cups catch the wind and the more turns of the attached cups, the
greater the wind speed.
Doppler radar is also used to measure wind speed. It works like a
police radar gun aimed at speeding cars, but in this case is aimed at
speeding winds with microwaves.
A scale for measuring wind speed is called the Beaufort scale. On
this scale winds are ranked from the calmest air movement at 0 to
hurricane winds at 12. …Calm, light air, light breeze, gentle breeze,
moderate breeze, fresh breeze, strong breeze, moderate gale, fresh
gale, strong gale, whole gale, storm, hurricane.
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2
3
Review questions on wind.
Use the following words to match with the correct picture
Doppler Radar
Wind Vane
4
Anemometer
Summary Questions
1. Wind is caused by
a. currents from outer space
b. uneven heating of the earth
c. revolution of the earth around the sun
2. Who has a wind scale named after him, that measures wind force at
sea?
3. Wind direction is measured by a
a. hygrometer
b. wind vane
c. barometer
4. Wind speed is measured with a
a. anemometer
b. barometer
c. hygrometer
5. What is the range of numbers on the Beaufort Wind Scale?
6. What number does “gale” equate to on the Beaufort Scale?
7. What number does 'storm' equate to on the Beaufort Scale?
8. What number does “hurricane equate to on the Beaufort Scale?
9. If large tree branches sway, what is the name of that wind on the
Beaufort Scale?
10. True or False? The Beaufort wind scale uses observations of
everyday things to determine wind speed.
5
© Copyright 2010.! M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.
6
7
Beaufort Wind Scale Activity
Name
0
Calm
1
Light Air
2
Light
Breeze
3
Gentle
Breeze
4
Moderate
Breeze
5
Fresh
Breeze
Class
Smoke
Rises
Straight
Up
Smoke
Drifts
Leaves
Rustle
Leaves
& Twigs
Move
Small
Branches
Move
Small
Branches
Sway
© Copyright 2010.! M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.
8
6
Strong
Breeze
7
Near Gale
8
Gale
9
Strong
Gale
10
Small
Trees
Sway
Large
Branches
Sway
Whole
Trees in
Motion
Branches
Break Off
Trees
Trees
Uprooted
Storm
11
Widespread
Damage
Strong
Storm
12
Devastation
Hurricane
© Copyright 2010.! M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.
9
© Copyright 2010.! M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.
10
http://www.stormfax.com/beaufort.htm
http://www.stormfax.com/beaufort.htm
Summary Questions
1. Wind is caused by
a. currents from outer space
b. uneven heating of the earth
c. revolution of the earth around the sun
2. Who has a wind scale named after him, that measures wind force at
sea? BEAUFORT
3. Wind direction is measured by a
a. hygrometer
b. wind vane
c. barometer
4. Wind speed is measured with a
a. anemometer
b. barometer
c. hygrometer
5. What is the range of numbers on the Beaufort Wind Scale?
1 - 12
6. What number does “gale” equate to on the Beaufort Scale?
8
7. What number does 'storm' equate to on the Beaufort Scale?
10
8. What number does “hurricane equate to on the Beaufort Scale?
9. If large tree branches sway, what is the name of that wind on the
Beaufort Scale?
NEAR GALE
The Beaufort wind scale uses observations of
10. True or False?
everyday things to determine wind speed.
© Copyright 2010.! M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.
12
Beaufort Wind Scale Activity
Name
Class
ANSWERS:
0
Calm
1
Light Air
2
Light
Breeze
3
Gentle
Breeze
4
Moderate
Breeze
5
Fresh
Breeze
Smoke
Rises
Straight
Up
Smoke
Drifts
Leaves
Rustle
Leaves
& Twigs
Move
Small
Branches
Move
Small
Branches
Sway
© Copyright 2010.! M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.
6
Small
Trees
Sway
Strong
Breeze
7
Large
Branches
Sway
Near Gale
Whole
Trees in
Motion
8
Gale
Branches
Break Off
Trees
9
Strong
Gale
Trees
Uprooted
10
Storm
Widespread
Damage
11
Strong
Storm
Devastation
12
Hurricane
© Copyright 2010.! M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.