Ostrowski, R., Schönhofer, J., Stella, M., Grave, A., Babakov, A., Chubarenko, B.
South Baltic rip currents detected by a field survey
The paper presents results of experimental
investigations of currents in the nearshore region of the south Baltic Sea. The
analysis is based on the field data collected near Lubiatowo (Poland) using the
measuring equipment which was simultaneously operated both by the Polish and
Russian research teams. The venture was aimed at detection of rip currents that
are rare and insufficiently explored phenomena in the south Baltic coastal
zone. The data include wind velocity and direction, deep-water wave buoy
records and currents surveyed by means of drifters. The measurements were
carried out in the area whose hydrodynamics, lithodynamics and morphodynamics
are typical of the south Baltic sandy coast. It appears that the nearshore
water flows are mostly represented by longshore wave-driven currents with mean
velocities of 0.22–0.53 m/s, and the maximum velocity of 1.32 m/s. Water
circulation patterns resembling rip currents with velocities of up to 0.34 m/s
were identified only on one day, when specific wave conditions occurred at the
study site. Contrary to strong longshore currents generated by storm waves, rip
currents occur under mild or moderate wave conditions, when many beach users
are willing to swim in nearshore waters. The present findings can therefore be
useful for the improvement of swimmers’ safety in the south Baltic Sea regions.