Sharks Assist in Hurricane Research

Scientists at the University of Delaware are enlisting an unexpected partner to help improve hurricane forecasts: sharks. Researchers are attaching small electronic sensors to sharks swimming along the U.S. East Coast, allowing the animals to collect information about ocean temperature, salinity, and depth as they move through the water. When the sharks surface, the sensors transmit their data to satellites, giving scientists real-time measurements from parts of the ocean that can be difficult to monitor. Ocean temperatures play a major role in determining how quickly hurricanes strengthen, so researchers hope this data will help forecasters more accurately predict storm intensity before hurricanes reach land. The project could provide communities from North Carolina to Massachusetts with better information to prepare for dangerous storms, while also showing how sharks can play a surprising role in helping protect humans on land. 

Image via Reuters

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