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You are traveling to New York from California and it takes about five
hours. However when you return to California from New York, it takes 5
½ hours. Why is there a difference? Going to New York, the pilot knows
to "ride" the jet stream. These winds make the plane go
faster.
Understanding and charting wind direction and speed is important.
Navigation in the air and the oceans requires this information to take
advantage of these free natural rides. Wind direction is measured by a
simple weather vane.
Speed is measured with an anemometer usually in kilometers per hour
(or miles per hour). However, a navigator uses "knot" which is
equivalent to 1.85 km/hr (1.15 mi/hr). Wind speed is also given as a
force, called the Beaufort wind Scale which helps describe the effects
seen on land and compare them to wind speeds.
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