Leonardo da Vinci designed an anemometer to measure the force of wind.
His version used a hinged plate that the wind pushed upward. A graduated scale could indicate how far the plate moved, allowing the observer to compare wind strength. The instrument was developed in connection with Leonardo’s interest in flight, atmospheric motion and the behavior of air.
An anemometer measures wind speed or wind force, depending on its design and calibration. Leonardo’s plate instrument was not the cup anemometer commonly seen on weather stations today, but it represented an early attempt to turn wind pressure into a readable measurement.
The device should not be confused with a barometer, which measures air pressure, or a wind vane, which shows direction. Leonardo’s instrument focused on the pushing effect of moving air rather than simply indicating where the wind came from.