Beaufort scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Beaufort scale /bofrt/ is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to
observed conditions at sea or on land. Its full name is the Beaufort wind force scale,
although it is a measure of wind speed and not of force in the scientific sense.

Contents
1 History
2 Modern scale
3 See also
4 References

Force 12 at sea.

5 External links

History
The scale was devised in 1805 by Francis Beaufort (later Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort), an Irish Royal Navy officer, while serving in
HMS Woolwich. The scale that carries Beaufort's name had a long and complex evolution from the previous work of others (including
Daniel Defoe the century before) to when Beaufort was a top administrator in the Royal Navy in the 1830s when it was adopted officially
and first used during the voyage of HMS Beagle under Captain Robert FitzRoy, later to set up the first Meteorological Office (Met Office)
in Britain giving regular weather forecasts.[1] In the early 19th century, naval officers made regular weather observations, but there was no
standard scale and so they could be very subjective one man's "stiff breeze" might be another's "soft breeze". Beaufort succeeded in
standardizing the scale.
The initial scale of thirteen classes (zero to twelve) did not reference wind speed numbers but related
qualitative wind conditions to effects on the sails of a frigate, then the main ship of the Royal Navy,
from "just sufficient to give steerage" to "that which no canvas sails could withstand".[2]
The scale was made a standard for ship's log entries on Royal Navy vessels in the late 1830s and was
adapted to non-naval use from the 1850s, with scale numbers corresponding to cup anemometer
rotations. In 1916, to accommodate the growth of steam power, the descriptions were changed to
how the sea, not the sails, behaved and extended to land observations. Rotations to scale numbers
were standardized only in 1923. George Simpson, C.B.E. (Later Sir George Simpson), Director of
the UK Meteorological Office, was responsible for this and for the addition of the land-based
descriptors.[1] The measure was slightly altered some decades later to improve its utility for
meteorologists. Today, many countries have abandoned the scale and use the metric system based
units, m/s or km/h, instead, but the severe weather warnings given to the public are still
approximately the same as when using the Beaufort scale.
Sir Francis Beaufort
The Beaufort scale was extended in 1946, when forces 13 to 17 were added.[3] However, forces 13 to
17 were intended to apply only to special cases, such as tropical cyclones. Nowadays, the extended
scale is only used in Taiwan and mainland China, which are often affected by typhoons. Internationally, WMO Manual on Marine
Meteorological Services (2012 edition) defined the Beaufort Scale only up to Force 12 and there was no recommendation on the use of the
extended scale.[4]

Wind speed on the 1946 Beaufort scale is based on the empirical relationship:[5]
v = 0.836 B3/2 m/s
Where v is the equivalent wind speed at 10 metres above the sea surface and B is Beaufort scale number. For example, B = 9.5 is related to
24.5 m/s which is equal to the lower limit of "10 Beaufort". Using this formula the highest winds in hurricanes would be 23 in the scale.
Today, hurricane force winds are sometimes described as Beaufort scale 12 through 16, very roughly related to the respective category
speeds of the SaffirSimpson Hurricane Scale, by which actual hurricanes are measured, where Category 1 is equivalent to Beaufort 12.

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However, the extended Beaufort numbers above 13 do not match the SaffirSimpson Scale. Category 1 tornados on the Fujita and TORRO
scales also begin roughly at the end of level 12 of the Beaufort scale, but are independent scales although the TORRO scale wind values
are based on the 3/2 power law relating wind velocity to Beaufort force.[6]
Note that wave heights in the scale are for conditions in the open ocean, not along the shore.

Modern scale

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Beaufort
Description
number

Wind speed
< 1 km/h

Calm

< 1 mph
< 1 knot
< 0.3 m/s
1.15.5 km/h

Light air

13 mph
13 knot
0.31.5 m/s
5.611 km/h

Light breeze

47 mph
46 knot
1.63.3 m/s
1219 km/h

Gentle
breeze

812 mph
710 knot
3.45.4 m/s
2028 km/h

Moderate
breeze

1317 mph
1116 knot
5.57.9 m/s
2938 km/h

Fresh breeze

1824 mph
1721 knot
8.010.7 m/s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

Wave
height

Flat.

Calm. Smoke rises

vertically.

Ripples without
crests.

Smoke drift indicates

wind direction. Leaves
and wind vanes are
stationary.

Small wavelets.
Crests of glassy
appearance, not
breaking

Wind felt on exposed

skin. Leaves rustle.
Wind vanes begin to
move.

00.2 m

01 ft
0.20.5
m
12 ft

0.51 m Large wavelets.

Crests begin to
break; scattered
23.5 ft whitecaps

12 m

3.56 ft

23 m

69 ft

2530 mph
2227 knot
913 ft
10.813.8 m/s

Sea state photo

Associated
Warning Flag

0 ft

34 m
Strong
breeze

Land conditions

0m

3949 km/h

Sea conditions

Small waves with

breaking crests.
Fairly frequent
whitecaps.

Leaves and small twigs

constantly moving,
light flags extended.

Dust and loose paper

raised. Small branches
begin to move.

Moderate waves of
Branches of a moderate
some length. Many
size move. Small trees
whitecaps. Small
in leaf begin to sway.
amounts of spray.
Long waves begin
to form. White
foam crests are very
frequent. Some
airborne spray is
present.

Large branches in
motion. Whistling
heard in overhead
wires. Umbrella use
becomes difficult.
Empty plastic bins tip
over.

Sea heaps up. Some

45.5 m foam from breaking
waves is blown into Whole trees in motion.
3138 mph
streaks along wind Effort needed to walk
2833 knot
direction. Moderate against the wind.
1319 ft amounts of airborne
13.917.1 m/s
spray.
5061 km/h

High wind,
moderate
gale,
near gale

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Gale,
fresh gale

Moderately high
waves with
5.57.5
breaking crests
m
forming spindrift.
3946 mph
Well-marked
streaks of foam are
3440 knot
blown along wind
1825 ft direction.
Considerable
17.220.7 m/s
airborne spray.

Some twigs broken

from trees. Cars veer
on road. Progress on
foot is seriously
impeded.

Strong gale

High waves whose

crests sometimes
710 m roll over. Dense
4754 mph
foam is blown
along wind
direction. Large
4147 knot
2332 ft amounts of airborne
spray may begin to
20.824.4 m/s
reduce visibility.

Some branches break

off trees, and some
small trees blow over.
Construction/temporary
signs and barricades
blow over.

Storm,[7]
whole gale

Very high waves

with overhanging
912.5 crests. Large
patches of foam
m
from wave crests
5563 mph
give the sea a white Trees are broken off or
appearance.
uprooted, structural
Considerable
damage likely.
4855 knot
tumbling of waves
2941 ft with heavy impact.
Large amounts of
airborne spray
24.528.4 m/s
reduce visibility.

Violent
storm

Exceptionally high
waves. Very large
11.516
patches of foam,
m
driven before the
6473 mph
Widespread vegetation
wind, cover much
and structural damage
of the sea surface.
likely.
5663 knot
Very large amounts
3752 ft of airborne spray
severely reduce
28.532.6 m/s
visibility.

6274 km/h

7588 km/h

89102 km/h

10

103117 km/h

11

118 km/h
14 m
74 mph

12

Hurricane
force [7]
64 knot
46 ft

Huge waves. Sea is

completely white
with foam and
spray. Air is filled
with driving spray,
greatly reducing
visibility.

Severe widespread
damage to vegetation
and structures. Debris
and unsecured objects
are hurled about.

32.7 m/s

The scale is used in the Shipping Forecasts broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom, and in the Sea Area Forecast from Met
ireann, the Irish Meteorological Service. Met ireann issues a "Small Craft Warning" if winds of Beaufort force 6 (mean wind speed

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exceeding 22 knots) are expected up to 10 nautical miles offshore. Other warnings are issued by Met ireann for Irish coastal waters, which
are regarded as extending 30 miles out from the coastline, and the Irish Sea or part thereof: "Gale Warnings" are issued if winds of Beaufort
force 8 are expected; "Strong Gale Warnings" are issued if winds of Beaufort force 9 or frequent gusts of at least 52 knots are expected.;
"Storm Force Warnings" are issued if Beaufort force 10 or frequent gusts of at least 61 knots are expected; "Violent Storm Force Warnings"
are issued if Beaufort force 11 or frequent gusts of at least 69 knots are expected; "Hurricane Force Warnings" are issued if winds of greater
than 64 knots are expected.
This scale is also widely used in the Netherlands, Germany,[8] Greece, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malta and Macau, however with some
differences between them. Taiwan uses the Beaufort scale with the extension to 17 noted above. China also switched to this extended
version without prior notice on the morning of 15 May 2006,[9] and the extended scale was immediately put to use for Typhoon Chanchu.
Hong Kong and Macau however keep using force 12 as the maximum.
In the United States, winds of force 6 or 7 result in the issuance of a small craft advisory, with force 8 or 9 winds bringing about a gale
warning, force 10 or 11 a storm warning ("a tropical storm warning" being issued instead of the latter two if the winds relate to a tropical
cyclone), and force 12 a hurricane force wind warning (or hurricane warning if related to a tropical cyclone). A set of red warning flags
(daylight) and red warning lights (night time) is displayed at shore establishments which coincide with the various levels of warning.
In Canada, maritime winds forecast to be in the range of 6 to 7 are designated as "strong"; 8 to 9 "gale force"; 10 to 11 "storm force"; 12
"hurricane force". Appropriate wind warnings are issued by Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada: strong wind warning,
gale (force wind) warning, storm (force wind) warning and hurricane force wind warning. These designations were standardized nationally
in 2008, whereas "light wind" can refer to 0 to 12 or 0 to 15 knots and "moderate wind" 12 to 19 or 16 to 19 knots, depending on regional
custom, definition or practice. Prior to 2008, a "strong wind warning" would have been referred to as a "small craft warning" by
Environment Canada, similar to US terminology. (Canada and the USA have the Great Lakes in common.) However, there being no
generally accepted definition of "small craft", and to have consistency between wind speed ranges and their associated warnings, the phrase
"strong wind warning" has become the national Canadian norm.

See also
American Practical Navigator
CLIWOC
Enhanced Fujita Scale
Douglas Sea Scale
Fujita scale
SaffirSimpson Hurricane Scale
Sea state
Squall
TORRO scale
Tropical cyclone

References
Huler, Scott (2004). Defining the Wind: The Beaufort Scale, and How a 19th-Century Admiral Turned Science into Poetry. Crown.
ISBN 1-4000-4884-2.
1. ^ a b "National Meteorological Library and Archive Fact sheet 6

3. ^ Walter J. Saucier (1955). Principles of Meteorological Analysis.

The Beaufort Scale" (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/4

(http://books.google.com/books?id=CM99-uKpR00C&pg=PA407&

/4/Fact_Sheet_No._6_-_Beaufort_Scale.pdf). Met Office. Retrieved

lpg=PA407&dq=daily+swan+island+rainfall+data&source=web&

2011-05-13.

ots=OvGwgh67t9&sig=lwTKWaNSmgGqjFEC6rTIzfynYco&

2. ^ Oliver, John E. (2005). Encyclopedia of world climatology.

Springer.

hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA415,M1)
Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
4. ^ http://library.wmo.int/pmb_ged/wmo_558_en-v1.pdf
5. ^ Tom Beer (1997). Environmental Oceanography
(http://books.google.com/books?id=pgZtaB-qOmYC&pg=PA224&
dq=%22Beaufort+Scale%22+0.836). CRC Press.
ISBN 0-8493-8425-7.

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6. ^ Maiden, Terence. "T-Scale: Origins and Scientific Basis"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

8. ^ "Wetterlexikon - Beaufort-Skala" (http://www.deutscher-

(http://www.torro.org.uk/TORRO/severeweather/Tscaleorigin.php).

wetterdienst.de/lexikon/index.htm?ID=B&DAT=Beaufort-Skala) (in

TORRO. Retrieved 2012-01-04.

7. ^ a b The names "storm" and "hurricane" on the Beaufort scale refer

German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 2014-02-14.

9. ^ ""__

only to wind strength, and do not necessarily mean that other severe

(http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2006-05-16/06518935033s.shtml)

weather (for instance, a thunderstorm or tropical cyclone) is present.

To avoid confusion, strong wind warnings will often speak of e.g.
"hurricane-force winds".

External links
UK Meteorological Office: The Beaufort Scale (http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine
/guide/beaufortscale.html).
Radio interview (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4794209) with Scott
Huler.
OceanWeather.com (http://www.oceanweather.com/data/) gives current graphics for wind,
waves and temperature.

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Beaufort
Scale.
Wikisource has the text of
the 1911 Encyclopdia
Britannica article Beaufort
Scale.

Introduction to Physical Oceanography, Open Source Textbook, oceanworld.tamu.edu

(http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/contents.html), cites the original definition formula in chapter 4
(http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/ocng_textbook/chapter04/chapter04_04.htm).
Howtoons Poster (http://www.howtoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/beaufortscale.png) showing effects on land/sea effects at
each step.
US Economic Costs of High Winds (http://www.economics.noaa.gov/?goal=weather&file=events/storm/) NOAA Economics.
Online calculator: Beaufort scale (http://planetcalc.com/384/).
The Weather Legacy of Francis Beaufort (http://www.islandnet.com/%7Esee/weather/history/beaufort.htm) The history of the
Beaufort Scale.
Ireland's Beaufort was Windscale Inventor (http://www.mii.connect.ie/history/beaufort/beaufort.html) - by Dr John de Courcy Ireland.
Film of Wind Scale (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tdSVqOybqs)
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