![]() ![]() ![]() There are a number of things that can cause this, but the most common is a break in a sandbar. And since it's weaker than the opposing force of incoming waves, the receding flow usually won't carry you out to sea.Ī rip current occurs when the receding flow becomes concentrated in a particular area at a particular time. The slight slope of the beach effectively spreads out the force over a great distance, so it's not particularly strong at any one point. Ordinarily, this receding flow of water moves with minimal force. In the next section, we'll find out what causes this frightening phenomenon and see why it claims so many lives every year. Unlike violent, crashing waves, you probably won't notice a rip current until you're right in the middle of it. They occur in all sorts of weather and on a wide range of beaches. Rip currents are terrifying because they catch you off guard: One minute you're bobbing along peacefully in the surf, the next you're being dragged out to sea at top speed. But if you relax your body, the current should keep you near the surface. A rip current may knock you off your feet in shallow water, however, and if you thrash around and get disoriented, you may end up being pulled along the ocean bottom. Rip currents move along the surface of the water, pulling you straight out into the ocean, but not underneath the water's surface. Undertow describes a current of water that pulls you down to the ocean bottom. Rip currents may also be referred to as "undertow," which is just as inaccurate. Rip currents are caused by the shape of the shoreline itself, and they may be sudden and unexpected. They are primarily caused by the moon's gravitational pull, and they change gradually and predictably every day. ![]() Tides are the rising and falling of water levels in the ocean. These currents are often called "riptides," but this is a misnomer. Rip currents can move at a pretty good speed, often 5 miles per hour (8 kph) or faster. These currents may extend 200 to 2,500 feet (61 to 762 m) lengthwise, but they are typically less than 30 feet (9 m) wide. A rip current is a narrow, powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. ![]()
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