The Beaufort scale as an essential element of modern navigation

Scientific discoveries, the continuous improvement of technical devices, the growth of human capabilities-all this leads to the replacement of old devices that do not meet the latest requirements, with new ones. At the same time, in the history of human civilization, you can find many inventions that are not subject to time. An example of this is the famous Beaufort scale.

Sailing has long been one of the most important activities of man. It was also an excellent means of communication, and a source of new knowledge, and, in a certain sense, the engine of progress. At the same time, navigation also had a number of inconveniences, one of the most important among which was the inability to accurately determine the strength of the wind and the likelihood of a storm. In different countries there were different systems of assessments, because of which there were often disagreements. The Beaufort scale was the tool that solved this problem. However, everything in order.

Naturally, the famous scale of wind power, which received the name of the famous admiral and hydrographer Beaufort, appeared not in an empty place. Thus, in the 17th century, the brilliant English explorer R. Hook was working on the problem of creating and improving meteorological instruments. He, in particular, owns the idea of improving the barometer and creating the so-called "weather hours", in which the complex used the data of a thermometer, rain gauge, barometer and wind meter. Among other things, Hooke invented a device with which you can accurately determine the strength of the wind. If you look closely at it, you can see that the Beaufort gradation largely coincides with the divisions of this device.

Beaufort began studying the weather since 1793, and after 13 years he proposed the first breadboard scale, in which a parallel was made between the strength of the wind and the weather conditions. The first Beaufort scale had fourteen divisions, but a year later the scientist removed the zero from it, combining the first and second characteristics. Twenty years later, the British Maritime Administration approved this option, which is used in the UK to this day. In the world, this system began to be approved from the mid-seventies of the XIX century, when it was recommended by the First Meteorological Congress.

Wind force on the Beaufort scale is measured in points, with each division corresponding to certain signs of the state of the sea and the requirements for the state of gear on the ship. Subsequently, this graduation was transferred to land, but here it is used mainly by specialists.

The Beaufort scale, of course, underwent certain changes. So, now it is divided into 17 degrees, and the number of sails on the ship with this or that wind is no longer talking. At the same time, it retained its main distinguishing feature - the interdependence of wind power and sea state. And most importantly, its dignity lies in the fact that it is recognized by the entire maritime community, so now every sailor understands the forecast that is given when the ship leaves the port.