Dr Rip’s Essential Beach Book Everything you need to know about surf, sand and rips

by Brander, Rob

• ISBN13: 9781742238074
• ISBN10: 1742238076
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2023-10-01
• Publisher: NewSouth

Summary

How do waves break and what makes good surfing conditions? Why do beaches have different coloured sand? What are dangerous rip currents and how do you spot one – and what would you do if you got caught in one? Australia’ s best known surf scientist, Rob ‘ Dr Rip’ Brander answers all of these questions and more as we discover how beaches form, the science of waves and currents, how sand dunes work and the myth of collapsing sand bars, and the human impacts on our beaches and how they will respond to storms and climate change. Dr Rip’ s Essential Beach Book is filled with practical information on how to use the beach, from keeping your family safe in the surf to what to do in the (unlikely) event you find yourself swimming with a shark. Whether you’ re a surfer looking for the perfect wave or someone just enjoying a stroll along the sandy shoreline, this guide to the beach is a must-read for all ocean lovers.

Author Biography

Rob Brander is a beach safety researcher who combines elements of coastal geomorphology and hazards with an understanding of social and demographic aspects of beachgoers. The overall goal of his research is to understand the physical-social interaction of beach hazards in order to reduce the incidence of drowning and injury on beaches and other coastal environments. He works at UNSW.

Table of Contents

About this book 1 The sands of time: beaches past, present and future How to build a sandcastle Beachcombing and beach fossicking 2 Waves: the science of the surf The art of bodysurfing Boogie boarding for young and old Learning to surf 3 Motions of the oceans: tides, tsunamis and storms Rockpool rambling 4 White is nice, green is mean: rips and other currents The rip current survival guide How to spot a rip 5 Life’ s a beach … but which one? How to observe proper beach etiquette An idiot’ s guide to driving on a beach 6 Shark fin soup and other things that can kill you: beach hazards and safety The shark attack survival guide The beach safety checklist Acknowledgments and photo credits Index