How to spot a rip
New water-safety research shows a new approach to spotting rips is needed. Currently photographic images of rips are used in schools to demonstrate what one looks like. The research, published in Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Sciences this month is led by Dr Seb Pitman from the University of Canterbury's School of Earth and Environment, who tells Kathryn Ryan about the behaviour of rips, and how proficient beach-goers are at identifying them.