@article{fdi:010063185,
  title = {{R}ip currents and circulation on a high-energy low-tide-terraced beach ({G}rand {P}opo, {B}enin, {W}est {A}frica)},
  author = {{C}astelle, {B}. and {A}lmar, {R}afa{\¨e}l and {D}orel, {M}atthieu and {L}efebvre, {J}ean-{P}ierre and {S}enechal, {N}. and {A}nthony, {E}. {J}. and {L}aibi, {R}. and {C}huchla, {R}{\'e}my and {P}enhoat, {Y}ves du},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{R}ip currents are wave-driven intense seaward-flowing jets of water that are important to both beach morphodynamics and the overall ecosystem. {R}ip currents are also the leading deadly hazard to recreational beach users worldwide. {M}ore specifically, the {A}frican region is reported to have the highest rates of drowning in the world, yet both the occurrence and the type of rips developing along the {A}frican beaches are unknown. {I}n {F}ebruary 2013, a 12-day field experiment was performed at the high-energy low-tide-terraced sandy beach of {G}rand {P}opo beach ({B}enin, {W}est {A}frica). {H}uman drifter data and video imagery are combined to address wave-driven circulation and rip current activity. {R}esults show two prevailing rip current types. (1) {L}ow-energy (similar to 0.2-0.4 m/s) swash rips, with short life-spans of about 1 minute, extend about 5-10 m offshore and occur preferably at mid to high tide at fixed locations in the center of beach cusps. (2) {H}igher-energy (0.2-.8 m/s) surfzone flash rips become active with the onset of intense wave breaking across the low-tide terrace. {T}hey tend to migrate downdrift with a longer time-span of about 2-5 minutes. {T}he relatively weak longshore current (0.2 - 0.55 m's) measured during the experiment suggests that flash rips were driven by vortices generated by wave breaking rather than shear instabilities of the longshore current. {S}wash rips and flash rips are common at {G}rand {P}opo and often co-exist {W}e propose a conceptual model of both flash and swash rip activity on this stretch of the {W}est {A}frican coast},
  keywords = {{F}lash rips ; swash rips ; longshore current ; drifters ; video monitoring ; beach safety ; {BENIN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {C}oastal {R}esearch},
  numero = {no sp{\'e}cial 70},
  pages = {633--638},
  ISSN = {0749-0208},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.2112/si70-107.1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010063185},
}