Study for the METRO (Meteorology) – VT-10 Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam today!

Multiple Choice

Which instruments measure wind speed and wind direction?

Measuring wind speed and wind direction uses two different instruments because wind has both a speed and a direction component. An anemometer is used for wind speed; its cups or propeller spin faster as wind speed increases, and that rotation is translated into a wind speed value. A wind vane (weather vane) measures wind direction by aligning with the wind and showing the direction from which the wind is coming. Together, they provide the full wind vector: how fast and from which direction. Other instruments like a barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer measure pressure, temperature, and humidity, not wind.

Measuring wind speed and wind direction uses two different instruments because wind has both a speed and a direction component. An anemometer is used for wind speed; its cups or propeller spin faster as wind speed increases, and that rotation is translated into a wind speed value. A wind vane (weather vane) measures wind direction by aligning with the wind and showing the direction from which the wind is coming. Together, they provide the full wind vector: how fast and from which direction. Other instruments like a barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer measure pressure, temperature, and humidity, not wind.