Windsock facts for kids
Windsock in Germany.
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| Classification | Meteorological instrument |
|---|---|
| Uses | Indicates wind direction and estimates its speed. |
| Related | Anemometer, weather vane |
A windsock is like a giant fabric cone or tube. People use it to see which way the wind is blowing and how fast it's moving. You'll often spot windsocks at airports. They help pilots understand the wind before taking off or landing. Windsocks are also useful at chemical plants to quickly see if dangerous gases are leaking and where they might go. Sometimes, you'll even see them next to highways in very windy spots.
At night, many windsocks at airports have lights inside or around them so they can still be seen clearly.
How Windsocks Work
A windsock shows the wind direction by pointing. The end that's open faces into the wind, and the closed end points away from where the wind is coming. So, if a windsock points north, it means the wind is blowing from the south.
The windsock also helps you guess the wind speed.
- If the wind is light, the windsock will droop down.
- If the wind is strong, it will fly out straight and horizontal.
Windsocks often have bright orange and white stripes. These stripes used to help people estimate wind speed. Each stripe was thought to mean about 3 knots of wind speed. A fully stretched-out windsock usually means the wind is blowing at 15 knots or faster.
Windsock Rules and Standards
Different groups have rules for how windsocks should work. These rules make sure windsocks are reliable and easy to understand.
- The FAA (in the USA) says a good windsock should start moving in a breeze of just 3 knots. It should be fully stretched out when the wind reaches 15 knots.
- Transport Canada (in Canada) has similar rules. A 15-knot wind makes the windsock fully extend. A 10-knot wind will lift it almost horizontal, and a 6-knot wind will lift it about halfway up.
- The ICAO sets worldwide standards. They say a windsock should be at least 3.6 meters (about 12 feet) long. It should be wide at one end (0.9 meters or about 3 feet) and get narrower. It needs to be easy to see from 300 meters (about 1,000 feet) up. If it has two colors, they should be orange and white in five alternating bands. When the wind is 3 knots or more, the windsock must show the wind direction very accurately.
See also
- Anemometer – a tool that measures wind speed and direction more precisely.
- Koinobori – Japanese decorative carp-shaped windsocks.
