Undertow, rip current, and riptide are terms used to describe a variety of currents, all of which have different characteristics. However, much of the general public, news media, and even dictionary definitions confuse and misidentify these potential hazards at surf beaches. Many beachgoers use ...
Next is the "neck," the area where water rushes out to sea. It is the strongest part of the rip current. Water from the neck then flows into the "head," the region where water from the current spreads outward into deeper ocean waters and weakens. Rip Current vs. Riptide Believe it o...
Ariptideis an extremely strong current that occurs when the ocean tide pulls water through a small area such as a bay, lagoon or other confined body of water.Riptidesoccur during the ebb tide and are reversing currents. Ariptideis very hazardous to swimmers. The wordriptideis sometimes rendere...
Undertow, Rip Current, and Riptidedoi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-12-00052.1Stephen P. LeathermanThe Coastal Education and Research Foundation 1656 Cypress Row Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33411, USALeatherman SP (2012a) Undertow, rip current and riptide. J Coast Res 28(4):3–5...
rip current, narrow jetlike stream of water that flows sporadically seaward for several minutes, in a direction normal or nearly normal to abeach. Such currents are probably the cause of mostoceanbathing accidents blamed onundertow. The termriptideis often used but is a misnomer, the currents ...