US scientists tag sharks to help forecast hurricane intensification
US scientists are attaching electronic sensors to sharks to collect ocean data, including temperature and salinity, to improve hurricane forecasting. This method allows researchers to gather information from remote Atlantic regions that are otherwise difficult to monitor.
Why it matters
Innovative data collection methods can significantly improve the accuracy of weather predictions, potentially saving lives during hurricane seasons.
Scientists in the US are testing an unusual way to collect ocean data that could eventually help improve hurricane forecasts, by using sharks as mobile ocean sensors.Researchers from the University of Delaware are attaching small electronic tags to sharks swimming off the US East Coast. The tags record information such as water temperature, salinity and depth as the animals move through the ocean.The aim is to use sharks to collect measurements from parts of the Atlantic that can be difficult and expensive to monitor regularly. Scientists hope these observations will add to existing ocean data and help improve understanding of how hurricanes develop and strengthen.The research is led by Aaron Carlisle, a marine scientist at the University of Delaware.CTD tags on SharksThe tags used in the research are called CTD tags.
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