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The Beaufort Wind Scale History
The Beaufort wind force scale is one of those simple things that seems to have always
been around.
We think we know what it is meant to tell us, a simple numerical relationship to wind speed
based on an observation of the effects of the wind.
This scale comes from Rear-Admiral, Sir Francis Beaufort, Knight Commander of the Bath, born in Ireland 1774.
He entered the Royal Navy at the age of 13 and was midshipman aboard the Aquilon.
Beaufort had risen to the rank of Commander.
In 1805, Beaufort was appointed to the command of the Woolwich, a 44 gun man-of-war.
It was at this time he devised his wind force scale.
By 1838 the Beaufort wind force scale was made mandatory for log entries in all ships
of the Royal Navy.
Beaufort last served as Hydrographer to the Admiralty. He died in 1857.
The Beaufort Wind Scale Details
In examining Beaufort's scale it catches one's eye that the scale is a FORCE scale.
There is NO mention of wind speed.
While the choice of numbers is quite arbitrary, (intergers 0-12)
as a sailor Beaufort apparently felt there were 13
levels of behavior that he could recognize in a man-of-war.
He describes them in terms that may be vague to a modern sailor,
his descriptions
would certainly convey the full meaning of the force of the wind ,
men who shared years of sailing
in ships with characteristics similar to the Woolwich.
The effect of the wind on an 18th century fighting ship
is at the heart of Beaufort's Scale.
The scale was devised for a group of men who shared the same experience,
years of unremitting blockade of Europe in sailing ships
which were all quite similar in
characteristics.
His descriptions are couched in terms of the ship's characteristics under sail
describes numbers 0-4, wind in terms of speed that it may propel the ship:
those for 5-9 in
terms of her mission and her sail carrying ability.
Those for 10-12 in terms of her survival.
So how then did Beaufort's wind force scale
ever make the jump to a wind speed scale?
Well, you can read more about it at the link below. Many mariners will tell you that the reliability
of this scale is VERY questionable. That's why way back when the wind speeds were calculated into knotts for
the weather man. This is why you don't see alot about the wind scale on your local weather channel.
There is no substitute for experience and being able to judge winds correctly.
For more information on the Beaufort Wind Scale click below:
The Beaufort Wind Scale
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