Zephyrometer

<i>Zephyrometer</i>

Zephyrometer

Statue in Wellington, New Zealand

41°18′43″S 174°47′46″E

Quick Facts Zephyrometer, Artist ...

The Zephyrometer is a public sculpture by Phil Price in Evans Bay, Wellington. The work was installed in 2003.[1][2] It is a kinetic sculpture consisting of a concrete cylinder holding a 26 metres (85 ft) tall needle which sways to show wind direction and speed. It is sited on Cobham Drive to make use of Wellington's wind.[3] The Zephyrometer was damaged by lightning on August 14, 2014.

Zephyrometer was the second of five major wind sculptures commissioned by the Wellington Sculpture Trust over the period 2000 – 2010, which now make up the Meridian Wind Sculpture Walk. The work has attracted international interest, and is a beloved local landmark.[3]

Lightning strike

On 14 August 2014 at approximately 2:30 pm, the Zephyrometer was struck by lightning during a hail storm, leaving the tip of the sculpture frayed. A spokesman for Wellington City Council confirmed that the "needle" is "completely stuffed".[4] Video of the actual lightning strike itself was captured by Solomon Emet and is viewable on YouTube . The sculpture was restored on May 13, 2015, [5][6] but the new needle was composed of a lighter material which caused the sculpture to bend very low in extremely windy conditions.[7] Additional weight had to be added to the counterbalance.[8]

  • Lightning damage on Zephyrometer
  • Damage on tip
  • Damage near gimbal
  • Damage near gimbal (close-up)
  • Lowest exit point (close-up)

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "New sculpture to gauge Wellington's wind". Wellington City Council. 10 November 2003. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  2. [2]
    Boyd, Sarah (24 July 2004). "Out there". The Dominion Post. pp. E5.
  3. [3]
    Elliott, Sue (15 January 2023). "A journey of sculpture along Wellington's windy Cobham Drive". Stuff. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Sculpture struck by lightning". Dominion Post. 14 August 2014. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  5. [5]
    "Stricken Wellington Zephyrometer resurrected". Dominion Post. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Wellington zephyrometer resurrected after lightning strike". New Zealand Herald. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. [7]
    "Wellington wind wand blown to within 1 metre of busy road". Stuff. 1 December 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  8. [8]
    "Wellington.scoop.co.nz » Evans Bay's Zephyrometer re-balanced and moving again". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.


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