The development of a narrow, fast-flowing current that pulls water away from the shore through the surf zone, typically forming where breaking waves pile water against the beach and it drains back out to sea through a gap in a sandbar or other channel of lower resistance. Rip currents are a leading cause of beach drowning because their speed can exceed what even a strong swimmer can overcome by swimming directly against them.
Facts
Process Type Sources
1. Rip Current Formation (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroductionQuote, Introduction
A rip current is a specific type of water current that can occur near beaches where waves break. A rip is a strong, localized, and narrow current of water that moves directly away from the shore, cutting through the lines of breaking waves, like a river flowing out to sea.
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