Rip Currents and Beach Safety at Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Chris Houser
Proposal
Rip currents can pose a significant danger to beach goers who are often unaware of the dangers associated with entering the water, particularly if they are inexperienced swimmers or are visitors to the area. This study examines historical patterns of rip channels at Brackley Beach, located on the north shore of Prince Edward Island, by determining the locations and periodicity in which they form. Nearshore bars positions were manually mapped in GIS using satellite imagery (a common technique to map geographic features) and locations of rip currents were inferred by identifying gaps or channels that form within these alongshore structures. Preliminary results indicate the presence of stationary and non-stationary rip channels that develop at Brackley Beach through time. The identification of stationary rip currents can be directly utilized by coastal managers to inform beachgoers of persistent hazards that are spatially dependent (i.e., develop in the same location over multiple years). Environmental factors (e.g., wave conditions) and timing associated with non-stationary rip channels were also examined to determine how well the formation of these dynamic features can be predicted. These findings will ultimately be used promote beach safety at Brackley Beach by providing coastal managers an improved understanding on the spatiotemporal controls on rip current formation, and a similar methodology could be used to identify and predict rip channels in other marine and lacustrine environments.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Rip Currents and Beach Safety at Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island (PEI)
Rip currents can pose a significant danger to beach goers who are often unaware of the dangers associated with entering the water, particularly if they are inexperienced swimmers or are visitors to the area. This study examines historical patterns of rip channels at Brackley Beach, located on the north shore of Prince Edward Island, by determining the locations and periodicity in which they form. Nearshore bars positions were manually mapped in GIS using satellite imagery (a common technique to map geographic features) and locations of rip currents were inferred by identifying gaps or channels that form within these alongshore structures. Preliminary results indicate the presence of stationary and non-stationary rip channels that develop at Brackley Beach through time. The identification of stationary rip currents can be directly utilized by coastal managers to inform beachgoers of persistent hazards that are spatially dependent (i.e., develop in the same location over multiple years). Environmental factors (e.g., wave conditions) and timing associated with non-stationary rip channels were also examined to determine how well the formation of these dynamic features can be predicted. These findings will ultimately be used promote beach safety at Brackley Beach by providing coastal managers an improved understanding on the spatiotemporal controls on rip current formation, and a similar methodology could be used to identify and predict rip channels in other marine and lacustrine environments.