Figure 15. Surf zone width. 



(1) Dye Distance (Blocks 36, 37, and 38). A dye packet is thrown 

 into the surf zone between the shoreline and the outermost line of breaking 

 waves, i.e., into the surf zone proper and if possible just landward of the 

 breakers. Injecting the dye packet will not be possible if the surf zone is 

 very wide, as might be the case on flat beaches or when breakers are large. 

 If the surf zone is very narrow, the dye packet may be injected on the seaward 

 edge of the breakers. The distance from the shoreline, i.e., the landward 

 limit of wave uprush, to the point of dye injection is estimated and recorded 

 in feet. 



(2) Current Speed (Blocks 42 to 45) . As shown in Figure 16, the 

 observer marks a line with his foot on the beach at the point of dye injection 

 and begins to time the dye movement to determine current speed. The center of 

 the dye patch is followed alongshore for a 1-minute period. The distance the 

 dye traveled in 1 minute is then paced off parallel to the shoreline 

 (Fig. 17). The number of paces is then converted to feet and recorded on the 

 LEO form. (The length of the observer's pace (in feet) must be established to 

 make this conversion.) 



(3) Current Direction (Blocks 46 and 47) . Facing seaward, if the dye 

 patch moves to the right, a "+1" is recorded on the LEO form; if the dye patch 

 moves to the left, a "-1" is recorded. If no movement occurs, or if the dye 

 moves directly offshore, a "0" is recorded. If the dye moves seaward, it is 

 noted in the remarks section of the form. 



k. Rip Currents (Blocks 49 to 52). Rip currents, the strong surface 

 currents tht flow seaward from the shore, are the seaward return movement of 

 water piled up on the shore by the incoming waves and wind; they appear as 

 bands of agitated water. Identifying characteristics are a seaward-moving 

 strip of foam or debris, usually found where there is a low in the wave 

 activity, or a strip of muddy water moving seaward through the incoming 

 breakers (see Fig. 18). If rip currents are observed, the spacing between the 

 currents is estimated by pacing along the beach with the distance recorded in 

 feet on the form. 



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