A wind vane can help us to measure which direction the wind is coming from (Figure C вЂ“ left side). This is great for measuring wind speed, but doesnвЂ™t help us measure the wind direction. As the wind blows, it pushes the cups and causes the arms to rotate at a rate proportional to the wind speed. There are a few different types of anemometers, one of the most common being a cup anemometer (Figure C вЂ“ right side). The temperature sensor on this device is contained within a vented unit which allows air to flow freely across the sensor and measure the temperature while keeping the thermometer shaded from the direct heating of the sun.ДЄn anemometer is an instrument that measures wind speed and theyвЂ™re very common at weather stations. At modern weather stations, like our ECONet towers, an electronic temperature sensor is used to measure the outside air temperature (Figure B). As the temperature of the instrument changes, so too does the volume of the liquid inside of the thermometer вЂ“ the red liquid rises as the temperature rises due to the liquid expanding up the tube, and falls with the temperature due to the liquid contracting back into the bulb at the bottom. Chances are you probably thought of the classic glass tube filled with red-dyed alcohol вЂ“ replacing toxic mercury-filled instruments (Figure A).

Think about what a thermometer looks like. YouвЂ™re probably familiar with thermometers as theyвЂ™re very common in our daily lives (indoor & outdoor temperature, body temperature, oven temperature, etc.).

Classic weather calculator