Through these activities students will develop a vocabulary to describe different types of wind, measure the force of wind, record daily observations of wind velocity, and prepare visual aids to present their findings. Wind is air that moves. Although wind can not be seen, the effects of wind on objects can be observed. Wind can move small and large objects across the ground, over a body of water, or hurl them across the sky. The wind is always present and moving even if it isn't felt.
Wind comes in several strengths.
In 1805, a British Admiral, Sir Francis Beaufort, developed an observation scale for measuring the winds at sea. The Beaufort scale measured winds by observing their effects on sailing ships and the water's waves. Beaufort's scale was later adapted for use on land also. The Beaufort wind scale is still used today. Meteorologists use a man-made instrument, an anemometer, to measure wind speed.