Scientists traditionally use costly boats and satellites to study the ocean, but predicting hurricane intensification is still a tough task. Researchers at the University of Delaware are now using an unexpected group of helpers: sharks, according to Fox Weather. Aaron Carlisle, a marine scientist at UD, is leading a team that is placing special telemetry tags on species of pelagic sharks, including shortfin makos, blue sharks, smooth hammerheads, and young great whites, to collect important information as storms near the East Coast.
This method needed a unique engineering solution. Most satellite-linked wildlife tags were designed for marine mammals like elephant seals or sea turtles that come to the surface to breathe. Since sharks do not need to surface for air, the researchers had to choose species that typically swim near the upper levels of the water. When these sharks swim closer to the surface, their tags send a steady flow of data about water temperature, depth, and electrical conductivity to satellites in orbit. The main objective is to gather information about the thermal energy beneath the surface, as warm water is crucial for hurricane strength.
Carlisle noted that warmer water in the mixed layer contributes to stronger hurricanes, as it provides the heat they need to grow. By swimming through important depth areas, the sharks help capture thermal profiles that traditional satellite scans and research vessels might overlook. Improved hurricane forecasting could have significant economic benefits. The National Centers for Environmental Information reported that the U.S. experienced numerous weather and climate disasters costing billions of dollars over recent decades, leading to overall losses amounting to trillions.
Faster and more precise predictions of hurricane strength could help enhance emergency responses and reduce damage to infrastructure. Currently, Carlisle and his team are carefully testing the tags on a chosen group of sharks to improve data collection before expanding the project. Additionally, the telemetry data is providing researchers with a rare chance to understand how top predators behave when severe storms pass overhead.
What are your thoughts on using sharks for hurricane forecasting?
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Source: Upworthy, by Adam Albright-Hanna