Leonardo da Vinci designed an anemometer to observe wind direction and changes in the wind.
An anemometer is an instrument used to measure wind speed or, in some designs, to indicate wind movement. Leonardo’s version used a plate that could respond to airflow, allowing an observer to study the strength and direction of the wind. His interest was closely connected to his investigations of flight, birds, air currents, and weather.
Leonardo’s instrument was not the same as the cup anemometers commonly seen today. Modern anemometers often calculate speed from the rotation of cups or a propeller, while early designs used simpler visual or mechanical indicators.
The device is sometimes confused with a barometer. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure; an anemometer concerns moving air. Leonardo’s wind studies supported his broader attempts to understand aerial motion scientifically.