Which meteorological instrument is used to measure wind speed or wind velocity?

Introduction / Context:
Weather observation and forecasting rely on several specialised instruments that measure different properties of the atmosphere. One important quantity for aviation, shipping, agriculture and sports is wind speed or wind velocity. The instrument name that appears very often in competitive exams is the one designed specifically to measure how fast the wind is blowing at a particular location.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The question asks about an instrument for measuring wind speed or wind velocity.
• It is a conceptual general knowledge question with no numerical data.
• The names given in the options refer to different scientific instruments used in various fields.

Concept / Approach:
In meteorology, the standard instrument used to measure wind speed is called an anemometer. The most common type is the cup anemometer, which has three or four hemispherical cups mounted on horizontal arms that rotate around a vertical shaft. As the wind blows, it turns the cups, and the rotation speed is calibrated to give the wind speed. Other types include propeller anemometers and ultrasonic anemometers, but all of them fall under the general term anemometer. By contrast, the other instrument names in the options are associated with different physical quantities.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the physical quantity mentioned in the question, which is wind speed or wind velocity. Step 2: Recall the standard meteorological instrument used for this purpose, which is called an anemometer. Step 3: Compare this with the list of options provided in the question. Step 4: Select the option that matches the instrument name anemometer. Step 5: Confirm that none of the other options are used for wind speed measurement.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check by recalling that weather stations usually use a combination of a wind vane and an anemometer. The wind vane shows wind direction, while the anemometer measures speed. Meteorological diagrams and textbook illustrations of weather instruments consistently label the rotating cup device as an anemometer. This consistency across different sources confirms that the association of anemometer with wind velocity is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Coulombmeter: This refers to an instrument for measuring electric charge in coulombs and is used in electricity and electronics experiments, not in meteorology for wind speed.
Cyanometer: This is a historical instrument used to measure the blueness of the sky, related to atmospheric clarity, not wind velocity.
Chronometer: A chronometer is a highly accurate timekeeping device, often used for navigation at sea. It measures time, not wind speed.
Barometer: A barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure and is crucial for weather forecasting, but it does not give wind speed readings.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse barometer and anemometer because both are meteorological instruments and they may have learned them together. Another common mistake is to answer wind vane instead of anemometer in questions that mention wind, but a wind vane measures direction, not speed. To avoid these errors, it helps to link the root ana for wind in anemometer with its function and remember that barometers are always connected with pressure and weather maps of high and low pressure.

Final Answer:
The instrument used to measure wind speed or wind velocity is the anemometer.