Wind Energy: Keeping Track

In our last lesson, we ended by making a simple anemometer to measure wind speed. To use the anemometer, take it outside while the wind is blowing and count how many times it spins. Use the chart with the anemometer assembly instructions to convert revolutions to approximate wind speeds. Continue to observe wind direction with your windsock.


To keep a record of daily wind speeds and directions, fill out a wind rose. You can find a printable version at the bottom of the right hand column of this page from Weather for Schools. Use the Excel spreadsheet provided above the printable format to record your data and watch a wind rose automatically appear. Record wind speeds in the "comments" box. Happy wind chasing!

By Tholly (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons