Sharks with sensors help scientists predict hurricane intensity

Sharks are becoming unlikely allies in the fight against hurricanes, equipped with special sensors to help scientists predict storm intensity with greater accuracy. Researchers at the University of Delaware are deploying these ocean predators as mobile data collectors.

The study involves attaching small electronic sensors, known as CTD devices, to sharks. These instruments measure crucial oceanographic parameters, including water conductivity (closely linked to salinity), temperature, and depth, as the sharks swim and dive. This real-time data collection aims to improve oceanographic, atmospheric, and climate models.

"Animal-borne sensors have been successfully used by oceanographers for years, especially on marine mammals in polar regions where scientific observations are scarce," explained Aaron Carlisle, lead researcher and professor at the University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment. "Sharks provide a new opportunity for this type of research because they are abundant, widely distributed, and more accessible than many protected marine mammals."

Researchers select shark species that frequently surface, allowing their devices to transmit data to satellites. Species like the shortfin mako, blue shark, smooth hammerhead, and young great white sharks have been identified as good candidates for this research in the North Atlantic. The primary interest is in the heat content of the ocean's mixed layer, a critical factor influencing hurricane strength: warmer waters fuel more powerful storms. Tagging begins in early May as migratory species move closer to shore from their wintering grounds.

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Animal-borne sensors have been successfully used by oceanographers for years, especially on marine mammals in polar regions where scientific observations are scarce. Sharks provide a new opportunity for this type of research because they are abundant, widely distributed, and more accessible than many protected marine mammals.