The Science of Rip Currents (Infographic)

Infographics
By published
The first week of June is Rip Current Awareness Week.
Swimmers getting dragged out to deep water by the currents. (Image credit: Ross Toro, LiveScience Contributor)

In an effort to heighten public awareness of rip currents at surf beaches, each year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designates the first full week of June as Rip Current Awareness Week, coinciding with the traditional start of the summer vacation season. Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water, often forming at low spots or breaks in sandbars. They are prevalent along the east, Gulf and west coasts of the U.S., as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes. Moving at speeds of up to 8 feet per second, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer. According to the United States Lifesaving Association, lifeguards rescue tens of thousands of people from rip currents in the U.S. every year and 80 percent of surf beach rescues are attributed to rip currents. It is estimated that 100 people are killed by rip currents annually. Panicked swimmers often try to counter a rip current by swimming straight back to shore—against the strong current. This puts them at risk of drowning due to fatigue. The safest way to escape from a rip current is to swim parallel to the shore and swim back to land at an angle.

Ross Toro
Ross Toro
Infographics Artist
Ross Toro is a contributing infographic artist for Live Science. He specializes in explanatory graphics that deal with science topics. Ross is a former art director of the Los Angeles Times, Associated Press and United Press International. He teaches Filipino martial arts when not dabbling in cartoons and animation.