Rip current

:Riptide redirects here. Riptide may also refer to an American TV series.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A rip current is a strong flow of water returning seaward from the shore. It is also called a "rip tide" or "riptide", or colloquially simply a rip.

Related Topics:
Water - Sea - Shore

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Rip tide" and "undertow" are incorrect terms for rip currents that are used often. Although rip currents would exist even without the tides, they can make an existing rip much more dangerous (especially low tide). Typical flow is at 0.5 metre per second (1-2 feet per second), and can be as fast as 2.5 metres per second (8 feet per second). Rip currents can move to different locations on a beach break, up to a few hundred feet a day. They can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the world's oceans, seas, and huge lakes such as the Great Lakes in the United States and Canada.

Related Topics:
Tides - Metre - Second - Feet - Oceans - Seas - Lakes - Great Lakes - United States - Canada

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~