Windsock

Windsock

A windsock or wind cone is a conical textile tube designed to indicate wind direction and relative wind speed. Windsocks typically are used at airports and at chemical plants where there is risk of gaseous leakage. They are sometimes located alongside highways at windy locations.

Wind direction is the opposite of the direction in which the windsock is pointing (note that wind directions are conventionally specified as being the compass point from which the wind originates; so a windsock pointing due north indicates a southerly wind). Windspeed is indicated by the windsock's angle relative to the mounting pole; in low winds, the windsock droops; in high winds it flies horizontally.

Per FAA standards referenced below, a 15 knot (17mph) wind will fully extend the windsock. A 3 knot (3.5mph) breeze will cause the windsock to orient itself according to the wind.

At many airports windsocks are lighted at night, either by flood lights on top surrounding it or with one mounted on the pole shining inside it.

Ornamental windsocks

Windsocks originated in China and Japan, where they were considered a symbol of good luck and longevity. On Children's Day they display traditional Japanese windsocks, or "koinobori".

ee also

*Anemometer - a device for measuring wind speed
*Weather vane - a device for indicating wind direction

External links

* [http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/media/150-5345-27D/150_5345_27d.pdf FAA Specification for Wind Cone Assemblies] FAA Advisory Circular 150/5345-27D (PDF 447KB)

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • windsock — (n.) 1929, from WIND (Cf. wind) (n.1) + SOCK (Cf. sock) (n.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • windsock — ► NOUN ▪ a light, flexible cylinder or cone mounted on a mast to show the direction and strength of the wind, especially at an airfield …   English terms dictionary

  • windsock — [wind′säk΄] n. a long, cone shaped cloth bag, open at both ends and attached to the top of a mast, as at an airfield, to show wind direction: also called wind sleeve …   English World dictionary

  • windsock — UK [ˈwɪndˌsɒk] / US [ˈwɪndˌsɑk] noun [countable] Word forms windsock : singular windsock plural windsocks a cloth tube fixed to a pole to show which way the wind is blowing …   English dictionary

  • windsock — /wind sok /, n. a tapered, tubular cloth vane, open at both ends and having at the larger end a fixed ring pivoted to swing freely, installed at airports or elsewhere to indicate wind direction and approximate intensity. Also, wind sock. Also… …   Universalium

  • windsock — noun a large, conical, open ended tube designed to indicate wind direction and relative wind speed; used especially at smaller airfields …   Wiktionary

  • windsock — wind|sock [ˈwındsɔk US sa:k] n a tube of material fastened to a pole at airports to show the direction of the wind …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • windsock — wind|sock [ wınd,sak ] noun count a cloth tube attached to a pole to show which way the wind is blowing …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • windsock — n. cone shaped cloth sleeve hung so that it swings freely in the blowing wind thereby indicating in which direction the wind is blowing, air sock (as at an airport) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • windsock — noun a light, flexible cylinder or cone mounted on a mast to show the direction and strength of the wind, especially at an airfield …   English new terms dictionary

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