Understanding rip currents in the nearshore environment: a new generation of oceanography visualizations

The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) reports that approximately 80% of their rescues are related to beach goers who get caught in a swift moving, offshore flow of water known as a rip current. Many people of all ages and backgrounds are unfamiliar with nearshore oceanography processes such as rip currents. In an effort to prepare its weather forecasters to make predictions of the rip current hazard at coastal locations, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) requested that the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training (COMET) begin developing computer-based, distance learning modules on rip currents and the nearshore marine environment. A three-part series has been in development since early 2004. These include modules entitled, “NWS Mission and Partnerships”, Nearshore Fundamentals,” and “Rip Current Forecasting.”

Like much of the public, an operational weather forecaster from the NWS does not have an oceanography background. Hence, the level at which much of the information is presented (at least in the first 2 modules) is appropriate for those at the advanced high school or undergraduate level. One of the most unique aspects of this work has turned out to be the illustrations and conceptual animations of the nearshore marine environment that have been developed to support the training module content. These illustrations have been recognized with an “Honorable Mention” award in the 2005 Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the journal Science. The education community has lacked these types of graphical materials to help the student visualize the oceanography processes and bathymetric features in the nearshore environment that lead to rip currents. Therefore, while the context of the information in the module is directed to NWS personnel, these illustrations and animations can easily be incorporated into a lesson or lecture on basic nearshore oceanography processes that an educator has tailored to their particular audience (e.g., middle school, high school, undergraduate, public information seminar). They are available via COMET's online multimedia database for educational purposes. This presentation will examine the objectives of these modules, demonstrate the supporting illustrations and animations, and explore how they are applicable to a wide audience.