An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A system for estimating and reporting wind speeds which has 13 standardized categories and associated descriptions. The Beaufort scale ranges from 0 for complete calm to 12 for a cyclone. In this scale, the wind speed (in km/h) equals 3B^1.5, where B is the Beaufort number of the wind. The scale was originally devised for use at sea but has subsequently been modified for use over land.

See also: Named after Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857), who introduced the first version of the system in 1805; → scale.