Sharks Are Helping Scientists Improve Weather Forecasts

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Energy and commodity traders hoping to gain an edge from weather forecasts may someday have sharks to thank.

Scientists recently tagged 18 blue sharks and one mako off the coast of Long Island and Cape Cod to collect ocean temperature data in parts of the Atlantic that are difficult for conventional instruments to reach, according to a report by Laura McDonnell published in April by npj Climate and Atmospheric Science. The results showed climate models using more than 8,200 shark observations reduced forecast error rates by as much as 40%.