From two sources, I have slightly different Beaufort scales - the wind speed brackets are virtually the same, but some of the names have changed, (esp. the gales) and Storm is now in a different bracket altogether. Did the difinitions change? If so, when? Is there an 'old' scale and a 'new' scale?
2007-02-25 01:26:00 · 1 answers · asked by Stargazer 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
This is a good question. I'm looking here at two sources. The first, is Byer's text (1959) with 13 Beaufort numbers ranging from 0 to 12 (with the "Deep-sea criterion of 1874") which says 0 is calm and 12 is "That which no canvas could withstand", 0 is wind speed of 1 knot and 12 is wind speed of greater than 65 knots. The second source is Ahrens text (7th ed 2003) with 13 Beaufort numbes again from 0 to 12 and 0 is calm but 12 is "Hurricane". Wind speeds though are the same. So Admiral Beaufort (British Navy) who devised this system in 1805 based on the effect of the wind on the sails of the ship is still pretty much the same.
2007-02-25 06:06:53 · answer #1 · answered by 1ofSelby's 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋