RiverSafe - Activities

Correct

Recirculating Waves

A recirculating wave is where the water continually flows back over itself. This means that a buoyant or semi-buoyant object will be held in this reversed flow.

Recirculating waves are formed behind a submerged obstacle and are always breaking. Water behind the obstacle will be aerated (full of air bubbles) and may seem lower in level than the rest of the river flow.

It may be difficult to see how water is escaping from the area below the obstacle and debris may be seen recirculating behind the obstacle. Swimmers can be held by recirculating waves, become exhausted and drown.

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