Which instrument is used to measure the intensity of wind?

The Beaufort Scale is a qualitative scale that is used to estimate and express wind speed based on observed conditions at sea or on land. It corresponds descriptions of marine conditions to an integer scale that ranges from 0 (calm) to 12 (hurricane), allowing users to assess the intensity of wind and its effects on the environment and structures.

In contrast, while a thermometer measures temperature, and a barometer measures atmospheric pressure, neither instrument directly measures wind intensity. An anemometer, designed to quantify wind speed in numerical terms, serves a different function than the qualitative nature of the Beaufort Scale. Therefore, the Beaufort Scale is the correct instrument in this context, as it provides descriptive assessments of wind intensity based on observational data.