Scientists Enlist Sharks to Improve Storm Forecasts

Researchers at the University of Delaware are testing the possibility of using sharks as mobile ocean data collectors along the US East Coast. The sharks carry small electronic CTD tags that measure electrical conductivity (salinity), temperature and ocean depth as they move.

The data collected is intended to help refine oceanographic and climate models for predicting the intensity of hurricanes before they make landfall.

In the past, oceanographers have used similar sensors on animals such as elephant seals in polar regions. According to lead researcher Aaron Carlisle, sharks are suitable candidates because they are abundant and accessible. The research focuses primarily on the heat content of the upper mixed layer of the ocean, which directly fuels and controls the strength of hurricanes. The selected species include shortfin mako sharks, blue sharks, smooth hammerhead sharks and juvenile great white sharks, which surface frequently enough.

Tagging begins in May as the sharks move closer to shore. The entire process of attaching the tag to the dorsal fin takes less than five minutes and is conducted under the supervision of animal welfare authorities. The materials used corrode over time and eventually fall off. Each time a shark surfaces, the tag transmits the collected data to a satellite network.

Ph.D. candidate Caroline Wiernicki compares the sharks' actual behavior to routine data collection, which stands in sharp contrast to their terrifying portrayal in popular culture. The project's success could provide communities from North Carolina to Massachusetts with more accurate information to prepare for intensifying storms.

(Reuters, Max)