Dec 30, 2009
The Beaufort scale is a handy device for estimating wind speed. It was devised in 1805 by a British Admiral, Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857). Beaufort's intention was to create a standard method of assessing wind speed, based on sailors' descriptions of the wind's effect on the water. In 1926 the scale was modified so it could also be used on land.
The Beaufort Scale designates numbers from 0 to 17 to indicate wind speeds, as shown in the table below.
| Wind speed (mph) | Beaufort Number | Wind Effect on Land | Official Description |
| Less than 1 | 0 | Calm; smoke rises vertically. | CALM |
| 1-3 | 1 | Wind direction is seen in direction of smoke, but is not revealed by... |
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