Coastal Hazards

RIP CURRENTS IN SPAIN

Under specific conditions along a seacoast or lakeshore, powerful currents form that carry large amounts of water away from the shore: rip currents. Rip currents develop when a series of large waves piles up water between the longshore bar and the swash zone. 
On average, around 500 people die each year in Spanish coastal waters alone, in many cases, they succumb to deadly rip currents. Antonio de la Cruz, a geologist who helped prepare a report by the Camilo José Cela University, blames powerful rip currents. “These are not the typical currents found between the waves, instead, they are like rivers that pull swimmers out to sea,” he says. These types of currents are produced by gusts of wind that whip up the waves. The problem, particularly on beaches in Valencia, is that a huge amount of water reaches the shoreline, but the lack of depth means there isn’t enough space, and it is pushed out powerfully to sea.
Spain waters have lot of rip currents and try their best to enforce warning sign/flags when they're coming. Spain has signs on how to spot a rip tide/current and what they are to warn people. They tell people how to stay safe during a rip current by swimming if there are lifeguards around, avoiding waters if they have consumed alcohol, don't swim alone, most importantly, stay calm and do not panic, etc. 


 Staying Safe on a Surf Beach: What Are Rip Currents? · Frontiers ...



References:

Comments

  1. zachdawnMay 3, 2020 at 11:42 PM

    Interesting post Jocelyn, I know we have similar hazards in the Monterey Area. I had to do a report once on Monastery Beach and it's deadly undertow. These hazards are especially scary because most people cannot tell that they're even dangerous just by looking at them.

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