Rip current
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A rip current is a strong flow of water returning seaward from the shore. It is often mistakenly called a "rip tide" or "riptide", though the occurrence is not related to the tides. Colloquially a rip current is known simply as a rip. Although rip currents would exist even without the tides, they can make an existing rip much more dangerous (especially low tide). Typical flow is at 0.5 metres per second (1-2 feet per second), and can be as fast as 2.5 metres per second (8 feet per second). Rip currents can move to different locations on a beach break, up to a few hundred feet a day. They can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the world's oceans, seas, and large lakes such as the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada.
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Recognizing a Rip Current
There are signs to look for in the water to see if a rip current is present. Rip currents can be recognized by unusually calm waters, caused by the channel of water flowing out. The color of the water may be different from the surrounding area. Also, the waterline is lower on the shore near a rip current. It is advisable to look for the existence of a rip current before heading into the water.
Dangers
Image:Hanakapiai Beach Warning Sign Only.jpg Such currents can all be extremely dangerous, dragging swimmers away from the beach and leading to death by drowning when they attempt to fight the current and become exhausted. Although rare, rip currents can be deadly for non-swimmers as well: a person standing waist deep in water can be dragged out into deeper waters, where they can drown if they are unable to swim and are not wearing a flotation device. On April 14, 2004, an 19-year-old university student was killed by a rip current simply by standing in knee-deep ocean water at La Jolla Shores, near San Diego, California, USA. This occurred at low tide after midnight (no lifeguards present), and unfortunately, he was a non-swimmer without a flotation device.
Rip currents cause approximately 100 deaths annually in the United States, more than all other natural hazards except heat. Over 80% of rescues by surf beach lifeguards are due to rip currents. A common misconception is that a rip occurring under the water, instead of on top — an undertow — is strong enough to drag people under the surface of the water; this is not true.
Causes and occurrence
While the precise conditions leading to a rip current are not known, the general picture is as follows. When wind and waves push water towards the shore, the previous backwash is often pushed sideways by the oncoming waves. This water streams along the shoreline until it finds an exit back to the sea. The resulting rip current is usually narrow and located in a trench between sandbars, under piers or along jetties. The current is strongest at the surface, and can dampen incoming waves, leading to the illusion of a particularly calm area, luring some swimmers in.
Rip currents are stronger when the surf is rough (such as during high onshore winds, or when a strong hurricane is far offshore) or when the tide is low.
Surviving an encounter with a rip current
When caught in a rip current, one should not fight it, but rather swim parallel to the shoreline in order to leave it. If you see a person caught in one, yell at them to do so. Floating until the current disperses into deeper waters is another method of surviving such a dangerous incident, but it may leave the swimmer farther out from shore.
Safety tips
Posted warnings, where available, should always be heeded. It is advisable to stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties, which impede waves, encouraging rip currents to form. Also, check the local newspaper and internet for tide timetables. (Beware that tides can be substantially different at beaches relatively close to each other.) Never go into the water without lifeguard supervision from -2 to +4 hours of low tide — especially at night.