Researchers equip sharks with sensors to boost hurricane intensity forecasts
University of Delaware scientists are testing shark-mounted sensors that record ocean temperature, salinity and depth to improve predictions of hurricane strength along the U.S. East Coast.
Scientists at the University of Delaware are evaluating whether sharks can serve as mobile ocean-data platforms to refine forecasts of hurricane potency. They will affix small CTD tags to the dorsal fins of species that frequently surface, allowing the devices to send conductivity, temperature and depth readings via satellite. The project targets the mixed layer of the ocean, whose warmth directly influences storm strength.
Tagging operations begin in early May, when sharks migrate closer to the coast, and are conducted aboard a research vessel using a rapid, pit-crew-like method that includes animal welfare oversight. The collected data could enhance model accuracy for storms approaching from North Carolina to Massachusetts, offering coastal communities better preparedness. Researchers emphasize that the initiative showcases sharks as valuable scientific partners rather than fearsome predators.
Why it matters
Shark-borne data could give earlier, more accurate warnings of hurricane strength, helping vulnerable coastal areas prepare.
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