Researchers are attaching small electronic sensors to sharks swimming in the Atlantic, allowing the animals to collect valuable information about ocean conditions as they move through areas that are difficult for traditional instruments to monitor. The sensors measure temperature, depth and salinity, providing data that can be fed into ocean and weather forecasting models.
That information matters because the ocean plays a major role in determining how powerful a hurricane can become. Warmer water provides energy to developing storms, while changes beneath the surface can influence how quickly hurricanes intensify.
A recent study using more than 8,200 shark-derived measurements found that incorporating the data reduced surface-temperature forecast errors by as much as 40 percent in some areas. Researchers say the biggest improvements came in regions where conventional observing systems often have limited coverage.
The latest research is part of a broader effort to improve hurricane predictions by collecting more information from the ocean. Scientists are also using drones, aircraft and uncrewed ocean vehicles to gather data in dangerous or hard-to-reach conditions. NOAA says new drone observations have already shown potential to improve hurricane intensity forecasts.
For now, shark-based forecasting remains a proof of concept rather than a replacement for satellites, buoys or aircraft. But researchers say these animals could become valuable mobile sensors, filling gaps in the data scientists need to better understand storms.
The goal is simple: better information about the ocean could mean earlier and more accurate warnings when the next major hurricane begins to strengthen.
