Sharks fitted with sensors could help scientists improve hurricane forecasts

Aaron Carlisle grasps a white shark alongside a boat off the coast of Delaware (Reuters photo) Scientists in the US are testing an unusual way to collect ocean data that could eventually help improve hurricane forecasts, by using sharks as mobile ocean sensors.Researchers from the University of Delaware are attaching small electronic tags to sharks swimming off the US East Coast. The tags record information such as water temperature, salinity and depth as the animals move through the ocean.The aim is to use sharks to collect measurements from parts of the Atlantic that can be difficult and expensive to monitor regularly. Scientists hope these observations will add to existing ocean data and help improve understanding of how hurricanes develop and strengthen.The research is led by Aaron Carlisle, a marine scientist at the University of Delaware.CTD tags on SharksThe tags used in the research are called CTD tags. These small electronic devices measure electrical conductivity, which is closely linked to the amount of salt in seawater, along with temperature and depth.As sharks swim and dive, the tags record these measurements. When a tagged shark comes close enough to the surface, the...