five-and-ten system

five-and-ten system

[¦fīv ən ′ten ‚sis·təm] (meteorology) The most common system for representing wind speed, to the nearest 5 knots, in symbolic form on synoptic charts, consisting of drawing the appropriate number of half-barbs, barbs, and pennants from the end of the wind-direction shaft; in this system, a half-barb represents 5 knots, a barb 10 knots, a pennant 50 knots.