Scientists turn to sharks to improve hurricane predictions
Scientists are using sharks to gather ocean data that may help predict the intensity of hurricanes before they make landfall. Researchers at the University of Delaware are attaching sensors to sharks to measure ocean conditions, such as temperature and salinity, which can…
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Scientists are using sharks to gather ocean data that may help predict the intensity of hurricanes. Researchers at the University of Delaware are attaching sensors to sharks to measure ocean conditions, such as temperature and salinity.
Scientists are using sharks to help them understand the ocean better. They attach special devices to the sharks that measure things like temperature and salinity. This information can help them predict how strong hurricanes will be, which can help keep people safe.
Analysis
Sharks as Ocean Data Observers
Scientists are turning to sharks as mobile near-real-time ocean-data observers, carrying sensors that measure ocean conditions to inform oceanographic, atmospheric, and climate models. These CTD tags are small electronic devices that measure ocean electrical conductivity, a metric closely related to salinity, as well as temperature and depth, as marine creatures to which they are attached swim and dive.
The Project's Goals
The University of Delaware researchers are testing whether sharks can serve as mobile near-real-time ocean-data observers. They select sharks that can collect the measurements most useful for hurricane research, and favor species that surface often enough for their tags to transmit the information to satellites. Previous analyses identified shortfin mako sharks, blue sharks, smooth hammerheads, and juvenile great white sharks as strong candidates for such research in the North Atlantic.
The Tagging Process
The tagging process begins in early May, when highly migratory species move closer to the coast from their winter habitats further out in the Atlantic. Researchers head 50 to 65 km offshore aboard a research vessel, deploy baited lines, and wait, typically two to three hours, for a shark to take the bait. The tags are attached to the dorsal fin, and then every time the shark fins at the surface, the tag can communicate and transmit data to the orbiting network of satellite receivers.
The Potential Impact
If the project succeeds, the data collected by sharks could help improve forecasts of how strong hurricanes will be as they approach the U.S. East Coast. The information could give communities from North Carolina to Massachusetts more reliable information to increase coastal resilience to ever-strengthening storms.
Key points
- Scientists are using sharks to gather ocean data that may help predict the intensity of hurricanes.
- Researchers at the University of Delaware are attaching sensors to sharks to measure ocean conditions, such as temperature and salinity.
- The project aims to improve forecasts of how strong hurricanes will be as they approach the U.S. East Coast.
- The data collected by sharks could give communities from North Carolina to Massachusetts more reliable information to increase coastal resilience to ever-strengthening storms.
If the project succeeds, the data collected by sharks could help improve forecasts of how strong hurricanes will be as they approach the U.S. East Coast. This could give communities from North Carolina to Massachusetts more reliable information to increase coastal resilience to ever-strengthening storms.
However, the project is still in its early stages, and it may take some time to gather enough data to make a significant impact. Additionally, there is always a risk that the sharks may not behave as expected, which could affect the accuracy of the data.