Citation

Talbot MMB, Bate GC. Marine Geology 1987; 76: 319-324.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987)

DOI

10.1016/0025-3227(87)90037-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A new technique of rip-current recording has been employed to provide quantitative data on rip frequency and intensity during twelve aerial surveys along the shores of Algoa Bay, South Africa. Distinct alongshore gradients in surfzone width and beach morphodynamic state were recorded. These gradients, themselves related to the geography of the bay, wind direction and the angle of deep-sea swells, result in a gradient of rip frequency and intensity in the bay. Rip currents always appear to be present along the Sundays River Beach (central and northern shores), but their presence along the southwest shore was restricted to easterly wind-wave conditions. Both rip frequency and intensity were positively and significantly correlated with surfzone width and beach state over the range of sea conditions encountered. Beach state accounted for 62% of the alongshore variability in rip frequency and 35% of the variability in intensity.

Keywords: Drowning; Drowning Prevention; Water Safety