Currents

Question 1

How are riptides different to rip currents?

Answer 1

Riptides occur when the ocean tide pulls water through a small area, e.g. a bay or lagoon, whereas rip currents are an energy source in a coastal environment which can lead to outputs of sediment from the beach area.

Question 2

How do rip currents form?

Answer 2

-In areas close to the shoreline, plunging waves cause a build up of water at the top of the beach
-The backswash is forced under the surface due to resistance from breaking waves, forming an underwater current
-The underwater current flows away from the shore more quickly due to beach features, e.g. a gap in a sandbar, forming rip currents.