Abstract
Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water that flow offshore from beaches. These dangerous currents are the most serious hazard that threatens bather safety on the world’s surf beaches. In the United States, more people drown in rips annually than are killed by hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. Florida has the highest loss of life because of its long shoreline and warm waters, followed by other popular states for ocean swimming with many beaches—California and North Carolina. In response to these safety concerns, the science of rip currents has advanced significantly in the past decade. The First International Rip Current Symposium was held in Miami, Florida in 2010 where research advancements through field investigations and modeling were highlighted. These insights are being used to promote more effective public education and develop innovative outreach programs and tools.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ballantyne R, Carr N, Hughes K (2005) Between the flags: an assessment of domestic and international students’ knowledge of beach safety in Australia. Tour Manag 26:617–622
Bowen AJ (1969) Rip currents 1. Theoretical investigations. J Geophys Res 74:5467–5478
Branche CM (2001) Lifeguard effectiveness: a report of the working group. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, 21p
Brander RW, MacMahan J (2011) Future challenges for rip current research and outreach. In: Leatherman SP, Fletemeyer J (eds) Rip currents: beach safety, physical oceanography and wave modeling. CRC Press, New York, pp 1–29
Brander RW, Short AD (2000) Morphodynamics of a large-scale rip current system at Muriwai Beach, New Zealand. Mar Geol 165:27–39
Brander RW, Short AD (2001) Flow kinematics of low-energy rip current systems. J Coast Res 17:468–481
Dalrymple RA (1978) Rip currents and their causes. In: Proceedings of 16th international conference on coastal engineering, ASCE, Hamburg, pp 1414–1427
Dalrymple RA, MacMahan JH, Reniers JHM, Nelko V (2011) Rip currents. Ann Rev Fluid Mech 43:551–581
Dean RG, Thieke RJ (2011) Surf zone hazards: rip currents and waves. In: Leatherman SP, Fletemeyer J (eds) Rip currents: beach safety, physical oceanography and wave modeling. CRC Press, New York, pp 107–123
Fletemeyer J, Leatherman SP (2010) Rip currents and public education. J Coast Res 26:1–3
Haller MC, Dalrymple RA, Svendsen IA (2002) Experimental study of nearshore dynamics on a barred beach with rip currents. J Geophys Res 107:1–21
Hartman D (2006) Drowning and beach safety management along the Mediterranean beaches of Israel: a long-term perspective. J Coast Res 22:1505–1514
Houser C, Caldwell N, Klaus Meyer-Arendt K (2011) Rip current hazards at Pensacola Beach, Florida. In: Leatherman SP, Fletemeyer J (eds) Rip currents: beach safety, physical oceanography and wave modeling. CRC Press, New York, pp 175–197
Howland J, Hingson R (1988) Alcohol as a risk factor for drowning: a review of the literature (1950–1985). Accid Anal Prev 20:19–25
Klein AHF, Santana GG, Diehl FL et al (2003) Analysis of hazards associated with sea bathing: results of five years’ work on oceanic beaches of Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. J Coast Res 35:107–116
Lascody RL (1998) East center Florida rip current program. Natl Weather Dig 22:25–30
Leatherman SP (2003) Dr. Beach’s survival guide: what you need to know about sharks, rip currents and more before going into the water. Yale University Press, New Haven, 106p
Leatherman SP (2011) Rip currents: terminology and pro-active beach safety. In: Leatherman SP, Fletemeyer J (eds) Rip currents: beach safety, physical oceanography and wave modeling. CRC Press, New York, pp 259–271
Leatherman SP (2012a) Undertow, rip current and riptide. J Coast Res 28(4):3–5
Leatherman SP (2012b) Rip currents: types and identification. Shore Beach 80(3):5–10
Leatherman SP, Fletemeyer J (2011) Rip currents: beach safety, physical oceanography and wave modeling. CRC Press, New York, 277p
Lushine JB (1991) A study of rip current drowning and related weather factors. Natl Weather Dig 16:13–19
MacMahan J, Brown J, Thornton E et al (2010) Mean Lagrangian flow behavior on an open coast rip-channeled beach: a new perspective. Mar Geol 268:1–15
Reniers A, MacMahan J, Thornton EG et al (2009) Surf zone retention on a rip channeled beach. J Geophys Res 114:C10010. doi:10.1029/2008JC005153
Scott TM, Russell PE, Masselink G et al (2009) Rip current variability and hazard along a macrotidal coast. J Coast Res 56:895–899
Short AD (2007) Australia rip systems: friend or foe? J Coast Res 50:7–11
Short AD, Hogan CL (1994) Rip currents and beach hazards: their impact on public safety and implications for coastal management. J Coast Res SI12:197–209
Slattery MP, Bokuniewicz H, Gayes P (2011) Flash rip currents on ocean shoreline of Long Island, New York. In: Leatherman SP, Fletemeyer J (eds) Rip currents: beach safety, physical oceanography and wave modeling. CRC Press, New York, pp 31–43
Sonu CJ (1972) Field observations of a nearshore circulation and meandering currents. J Geophys Res 77:3232–3247
Voulgaris G, Kumar N, Warner JC (2011) Methodology for prediction of rip currents using a three-dimensional numerical, coupled, wave current model. In: Leatherman SP, Fletemeyer J (eds) Rip currents: beach safety, physical oceanography and wave modeling. CRC Press, New York, pp 87–105
Wright LD, Short AD (1984) Morphodynamic variability of surf zone and beaches. Mar Geol 56:93–118
Acknowledgments
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for supporting this rip current research and educational initiative.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Leatherman, S.P. (2013). Rip Currents. In: Finkl, C. (eds) Coastal Hazards. Coastal Research Library, vol 1000. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5234-4_26
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5234-4_26
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5233-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5234-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)