Leonardo da Vinci developed an anemometer to indicate changes in wind speed.
An anemometer is an instrument for measuring wind speed or, in some forms, wind direction. Leonardo’s design used a light, movable plate that the wind pushed upward. A graduated scale could then show how far the plate moved, giving an indication of the wind’s strength. The device was especially relevant to Leonardo’s studies of flight and atmospheric movement.
Leonardo did not create the modern cup anemometer. His instrument was an early visual indicator rather than a calibrated electronic meter. It is better understood as a way to compare wind conditions than as a device delivering the precise numerical readings expected from contemporary weather stations.
The name anemometer comes from Aeolus, the figure associated with the winds in Greek mythology. Leonardo’s interest in measuring wind was connected to his investigations of birds, gliding, and the behavior of air. That makes the instrument part of his broader scientific method: he sought observations that could turn natural phenomena into quantities and diagrams.
An anemometer is often confused with a barometer. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, while an anemometer measures wind. A windsock shows wind direction and approximate strength, but it is not the same type of measuring instrument.