Zone Exit Research Articles

Bерифікація алгоритму методу пробних частинок на задачі осьового обтікання конуса розрідженим газовим струменем

This paper is concerned with an aerodynamic calculation of supersonic gas plume flows and the determination of the forces they exert on obstacles. The paper presents a development of the test particle statistical method (TPSM) to numerically simulate supersonic gas plumes over a wide range of flow conditions. The work is based on the idea of a combined approach, i.e., the use of the gas-dynamic parameter distribution at the nozzle exit or on the conventional boundary of the dense core of the plume as input data for a TPSM algorithm adapted from homogeneous flows to plume ones. Combining methods of continual aerodynamics (inside or near the nozzle, where a continuum flow takes place) and the TPSM (where the motion is described on a molecular-kinetic level) allows one to solve supersonic plume efflux problems for arbitrarily rarefied plumes. The TPSM plume algorithm was tested to verify its reliability on the problem of axial flow past a cone. At the initial stage of the use of the combined approach, consideration was given to a rather rarefied gas flow, for which the gas-dynamic parameters at the nozzle exit can be used as TPSM input data. The force distribution over the cone surface and the static pressure upstream of the cone were calculated. The TPSM results were found to be in satisfactory agreement with the available direct simulation Monte-Carlo and experimental data. It was concluded that using the plume velocity and density distributions at the continual zone exit found from the Navier–Stokes equations as TPSM input data would significantly improve the expected results. This use of the TPSM in an aerodynamic calculation of gas plumes is the first in Ukraine. The TPM offers saving in computational resources: the TPSM running time depends on a variety of factors, but it is many times shorter than that of the direct simulation Monte Carlo method.

Antagonistic action of Siah2 and Pard3/JamC to promote germinal zone exit of differentiated cerebellar granule neurons by modulating Ntn1 signaling via Dcc.

Exiting a germinal zone (GZ) initiates a cascade of events that promote neuronal maturation and circuit assembly. Developing neurons and their progenitors must interpret various niche signals-such as morphogens, guidance molecules, extracellular matrix components, and adhesive cues-to navigate this region. How differentiating neurons integrate and adapt to multiple cell-extrinsic niche cues with their cell-intrinsic machinery in exiting a GZ is unknown. We establish cooperation between cell polarity-regulated adhesion and Netrin-1 (Ntn-1) signaling comprises a coincidence detection circuit repelling maturing neurons from their GZ. In this circuit, the Partitioning defective 3 (Pard3) polarity protein and Junctional adhesion molecule-C (JamC) adhesion protein promote, while the Seven in absentia 2 (Siah2) ubiquitin ligase inhibits, Deleted in colorectal cancer (Dcc) receptor surface recruitment to gate differentiation linked repulsion to GZ Ntn-1. These results demonstrate cell polarity as a central integrator of adhesive- and guidance cues cooperating to spur GZ exit.

Effects of tubes with different inlet shapes on the shock wave and self-ignition induced by accidental release of pressurized hydrogen

Spontaneous combustion caused by accidental leakage of high-pressure hydrogen affects the safe use of hydrogen energy. In this paper, the self-ignition of pressurized hydrogen discharged into tubes with different inlet shapes was studied experimentally. Inlet shapes include circles, square and triangular. The circular shapes are available in two different diameters, one is the same as the tube diameter, and the other is smaller than the tube diameter but has the same cross-sectional area as the square and triangle. Pressure transducers and photoelectric sensors are used to record pressure variations and self-ignition inside the tubes, respectively. The results show that pressure dead zone exits in the near field of the inlet as the inlet area decreases. The range of the pressure dead zone grows with increasing release pressure, which is not conducive to the occurrence of auto-ignition. In addition, under the same inlet area and release pressure, the inlet shapes play an important role in the characteristics of shock wave. It was found that the intensity and mean speed of the shock wave are greatest in tube with circular inlet, followed by the square, and least in the tube with triangle. Moreover, compared to the tube with circular inlet, the likelihood of spontaneous combustion is reduced for the tube with non-circular inlet. Among them, spontaneous ignition did not occur even though the pressure release was up to 11 MPa in the triangular inlet tube. It indicates that the better suppression of self-ignition can be achieved by changing the inlet shape of the tube.

CEP120-mediated KIAA0753 recruitment onto centrioles is required for timely neuronal differentiation and germinal zone exit in the developing cerebellum.

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessive ciliopathy in which all affected individuals have congenital cerebellar vermis hypoplasia. Here, we report that CEP120, a JS-associated protein involved in centriole biogenesis and cilia assembly, regulates timely neuronal differentiation and the departure of granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) from their germinal zone during cerebellar development. Our results show that depletion of Cep120 perturbs GNP cell cycle progression, resulting in a delay of cell cycle exit in vivo. To dissect the potential mechanism, we investigated the association between CEP120 interactome and the JS database and identified KIAA0753 (a JS-associated protein) as a CEP120-interacting protein. Surprisingly, we found that CEP120 recruits KIAA0753 to centrioles, and that loss of this interaction induces accumulation of GNPs in the germinal zone and impairs neuronal differentiation. Importantly, the replenishment of wild-type CEP120 rescues the above defects, whereas expression of JS-associated CEP120 mutants, which hinder KIAA0753 recruitment, does not. Together, our data reveal a close interplay between CEP120 and KIAA0753 for the germinal zone exit and timely neuronal differentiation of GNPs during cerebellar development, and mutations in CEP120 and KIAA0753 may participate in the heterotopia and cerebellar hypoplasia observed in JS patients.

Community Elimination of Covid-19 and the Green Zone Exit Strategy – A Working Example

Covid Action Group Podcast – Episode 1 Guest: Prof. Dr. Matthias F. Schneider Producer and Host: Alex Milne Summary Despite all we know about how to fight the virus, the western world has largely failed to contain its spread. Yet hope for the future may be closer than we think, in the unexpected power of … Continued

The transcription factor ZEB1 regulates stem cell self-renewal and cell fate in the adult hippocampus.

SummaryRadial glia-like (RGL) stem cells persist in the adult mammalian hippocampus, where they generate new neurons and astrocytes throughout life. The process of adult neurogenesis is well documented, but cell-autonomous factors regulating neuronal and astroglial differentiation are incompletely understood. Here, we evaluate the functions of the transcription factor zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in adult hippocampal RGL cells using a conditional-inducible mouse model. We find that ZEB1 is necessary for self-renewal of active RGL cells. Genetic deletion of Zeb1 causes a shift toward symmetric cell division that consumes the RGL cell and generates pro-neuronal progenies, resulting in an increase of newborn neurons and a decrease of newly generated astrocytes. We identify ZEB1 as positive regulator of the ets-domain transcription factor ETV5 that is critical for asymmetric division.

Influence of Geometric Parameters on Overall Performance of High Bypass Ratio Turbofan Nacelle and Exhaust System

In order to understand the coupled effect of the nacelle and exhaust system and to improve their overall performance, we studied the aerodynamic performance and the flow characteristics of the high bypass ratio turbofan nacelle and exhaust system by numerical simulation. The geometric parameters of a nacelle and exhaust system (e.g., the contraction ratio of the cowl afterbody and the fan nozzle exit angle) were investigated to evaluate their influence on the overall performance of the nacelle and exhaust system. The related flow mechanism was explored as well. The results show that the flow field of the nacelle and exhaust system under the mid-cruise condition exhibits characteristics of transonic flow. A stagnation zone exits at the nacelle lip and there is a velocity peak at the nacelle forebody. There exist a number of complex flow phenomena (such as shockwave, expansion wave, shear flow and shock wave-boundary layer interaction) in the downstream of the fan nozzle exit plane. The magnitude of the fan nozzle thrust or the intake ram drag is much higher than that of the additional drag, the nacelle drag or the core nozzle thrust. And for the nacelle drag, the friction drag of the cowl is in the same order of magnitude as the pressure drag of the cowl, the core cowl and the plug. But it is much larger than the friction drag of the core cowl and the plug. The effective thrust increases by 4.7% as the contraction ratio of the cowl afterbody increases; and it increases by 2.4% as the fan nozzle exit angle increases. The expansion degree of the fanjet flow, the shock wave strength and location, and the existence of the flow separation or second shock wave are influenced by the contraction ratio of the cowl afterbody and the fan nozzle exit angle. These phenomena have effects on the pressure distribution of the core cowl and the surrounding fanjet flow velocity, and hence they further affect the nacelle drag. The increase in the fan nozzle exit angle can noticeably reduce the thrust of the fan nozzle.

NOx Emissions and Nitrogen Fate at High Temperatures in Staged Combustion

Staged combustion is an effective technology to control NOx emissions for coal-fired boilers. In this paper, the characteristics of NOx emissions under a high temperature and strong reducing atmosphere conditions in staged air and O2/CO2 combustion were investigated by CHEMKIN. A methane flame doped with ammonia and hydrogen cyanide in a tandem-type tube furnace was simulated to detect the effects of combustion temperature and stoichiometric ratio on NOx emissions. Mechanism analysis was performed to identify the elementary steps for NOx formation and reduction at high temperatures. The results indicate that in both air and O2/CO2 staged combustion, the conversion ratios of fuel-N to NOx at the main combustion zone exit increase as the stoichiometric ratio rises, and they are slightly affected by the combustion temperature. The conversion ratios at the burnout zone exit decrease with the increasing stoichiometric ratio at low temperatures, and they are much higher than those at the main combustion zone exit. A lot of nitrogen compounds remain in the exhaust of the main combustion zone and are oxidized to NOx after the injection of a secondary gas. Staged combustion can lower NOx emissions remarkably, especially under a high temperature (≥1600 °C) and strong reducing atmosphere (SR ≤ 0.8) conditions. Increasing the combustion temperature under strong reducing atmosphere conditions can raise the H atom concentration and change the radical pool composition and size, which facilitate the reduction of NO to N2. Ultimately, the increased OH/H ratio in staged O2/CO2 combustion offsets part of the reducibility, resulting in the final NOx emissions being higher than those in air combustion under the same conditions.

Oxygen Tension and the VHL-Hif1α Pathway Determine Onset of Neuronal Polarization and Cerebellar Germinal Zone Exit

Postnatal brain circuit assembly is driven by temporally regulated intrinsic and cell-extrinsic cues that organize neurogenesis, migration, and axo-dendritic specification in post-mitotic neurons. While cell polarity is an intrinsic organizer of morphogenic events, environmental cues in the germinal zone (GZ) instructing neuron polarization and their coupling during postnatal development are unclear. We report that oxygen tension, which rises at birth, and the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif1α) pathway regulate polarization and maturation of post-mitotic cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). At early postnatal stages with low GZ vascularization, Hif1α restrains CGN-progenitor cell-cycle exit. Unexpectedly, cell-intrinsic VHL-Hif1α pathway activation also delays the timing of CGN differentiation, germinal zone exit, and migration initiation through transcriptional repression of the partitioning-defective (Pard) complex. As vascularization proceeds, these inhibitory mechanisms are downregulated, implicating increasing oxygen tension as a critical switch for neuronal polarization and cerebellar GZ exit.

Rip current circulation and surf zone retention on a double barred beach

Rip currents have an important control on the exchange of water and advected materials such as sediment and pollutants, between the surf zone and inner shelf. Concurrent in situ Eulerian and Lagrangian (GPS drifter) data of surf zone waves and currents were combined with video data on wave breaking patterns over the inner and outer bars on a high energy, double-barred beach. The data collectively show how the occurrence of wave breaking over the outer bar changes the behavior of a channel rip current, and the exchange process. On both days, there was a prominent clockwise eddy in the surf zone, for which the seaward-heading portion formed a rip current in a well-defined channel rip, incised into the inner bar. Exit rate (measured with drifters) from the surf zone to inner shelf decreased significantly with increased wave breaking over the outer bar, from 71% exits to 6% over the two days. Exit rate appears to be driven by the balance between wave breaking over the inner and outer bars and pulsing of currents within the surf zone. Under higher wave conditions, there were stronger pulsations in surf zone currents and more surf zone exits. However, higher wave conditions caused wave breaking over the outer bar. This breaking increases vorticity around the outside of the surf zone eddy, which increases surf zone retention. This is in contrast to previous studies showing that vorticity is highest at the center of surf zone eddies. Under such conditions, drifter exits were rare, and occurred due to vortex shedding. During lower incident wave conditions, eddy vorticity was lower, and drifters could relatively freely exit the surf zone. This is one of the few studies that investigate surf zone circulation on a high energy, double-barred beach.

Oxygen-Tension and the VHL-Hif1α Pathway Comprise a Developmental Switch Controlling the Onset of Neuronal Polarization and Germinal Zone Exit

Postnatal brain circuit assembly is driven by temporally regulated intrinsic and cell-extrinsic cues that organize neurogenesis, migration, and axo-dendritic specification in post-mitotic neurons. Despite studies implicating cell polarity as an intrinsic organizer of morphogenetic events, the nature of cues instructing neuron polarization and their coupling during postnatal development is unclear. We found a link between oxygen tension, which rises after birth, the von Hippel– Lindau(VHL)–hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif1α) pathway, and the polarization regulating the maturation of post-mitotic cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). At postnatal stages with low GZ vascularization, Hif1α modulates CGN-progenitor cell-cycle exit. Unexpectedly, the VHL-Hif1α pathway also delays the timing of CGN differentiation, germinal zone exit, and migration initiation by regulating newborn neuron niche interactions via transcriptional repression of the partitioning-defective(Pard) complex. As vascularization proceeds, these inhibitory mechanisms recede, implicating oxygen fluctuation as a developmental switch regulating neuronal polarization and a key shaper of the nascent steps of circuit formation.

Zeb1 controls neuron differentiation and germinal zone exit by a mesenchymal-epithelial-like transition.

In the developing mammalian brain, differentiating neurons mature morphologically via neuronal polarity programs. Despite discovery of polarity pathways acting concurrently with differentiation, it's unclear how neurons traverse complex polarity transitions or how neuronal progenitors delay polarization during development. We report that zinc finger and homeobox transcription factor-1 (Zeb1), a master regulator of epithelial polarity, controls neuronal differentiation by transcriptionally repressing polarity genes in neuronal progenitors. Necessity-sufficiency testing and functional target screening in cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) reveal that Zeb1 inhibits polarization and retains progenitors in their germinal zone (GZ). Zeb1 expression is elevated in the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma subgroup originating from GNPs with persistent SHH activation. Restored polarity signaling promotes differentiation and rescues GZ exit, suggesting a model for future differentiative therapies. These results reveal unexpected parallels between neuronal differentiation and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and suggest that active polarity inhibition contributes to altered GZ exit in pediatric brain cancers.

Dynamics of rip currents associated with groynes — field measurements, modelling and implications for beach safety

Rip currents can occur around groynes and other coastal structures (e.g. breakwaters and geological headlands), which provide a boundary to the wave-induced flow field and present a hazard to water users worldwide. Shore-normal groynes are common along drift-aligned coasts. In northern Europe these are often low-energy, fetch-limited environments that are dominated by locally generated wind waves. The presence of boundary-controlled rip currents due to groynes is supported anecdotally in literature, but few field measurements of their presence and dynamics exist. This study provides new quantitative scientific understanding of the dynamics of boundary-controlled rip currents within this setting. A 10-day field experiment at Boscombe beach on the south coast of England measured rip currents and nearshore hydrodynamics around an impermeable groyne field. Observations from both fixed instruments (wave, tide and current metres) and GPS-drifters confirmed the presence and characteristics of hazardous topographic rip currents around a groyne structure during a number of oblique wave events and drift reversals. The strongest offshore-directed rip velocities of up to 1ms−1 (10-min average) and 2ms−1 (instantaneous) were measured on the updrift side of the groyne where the longshore current generated within the embayment was deflected offshore. These strong rip flows were measured under relatively small wave heights (Hs<1m) and presented a significant bathing hazard. A calibrated and validated numerical model (XBeach) was used, in support of measured data, to explore the key environmental controls on rip behaviour across a range of groyne configurations and wave conditions not observed in the field. Key outcomes were that: 1) upstream deflected rip flows were found to be strongly correlated to the alongshore thrust due to wave forcing; 2) the groyne length relative to surf zone width strongly controlled the offshore extent of rip flows, with a significant increase in surf zone exits above a relative groyne length (length/surf width) of 1.25; and 3) rip flows increase up to a relative groyne spacing (spacing/length) of around 4–6, above which alongshore currents are fully developed. These findings have been distilled into some key principals that are relevant to the assessment of boundary-controlled rip hazard on beaches.

Polarity transitions during neurogenesis and germinal zone exit in the developing central nervous system

During neural development, billions of neurons differentiate, polarize, migrate and form synapses in a precisely choreographed sequence. These precise developmental events are accompanied by discreet transitions in cellular polarity. While radial glial neural stem cells are highly polarized, transiently amplifying neural progenitors are less polarized after delaminating from their parental stem cell. Moreover, preceding their radial migration to a final laminar position neural progenitors re-adopt a polarized morphology before they embarking on their journey along a glial guide to the destination where they will fully mature. In this review, we will compare and contrast the key polarity transitions of cells derived from a neuroepithelium to the well-characterized polarity transitions that occur in true epithelia. We will highlight recent advances in the field that shows that neuronal progenitor delamination from germinal zone (GZ) niche shares similarities to an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, studies in the cerebellum suggest the acquisition of radial migration and polarity in transiently amplifying neural progenitors share similarities to mesenchymal-epithelial transitions. Where applicable, we will compare and contrast the precise molecular mechanisms used by epithelial cells and neuronal progenitors to control plasticity in cell polarity during their distinct developmental programs.

Cross-species epigenetics identifies a critical role for VAV1 in SHH subgroup medulloblastoma maintenance.

The identification of key tumorigenic events in Sonic Hedgehog subgroup medulloblastomas (MBSHH) will be essential for the development of individualized therapies and improved outcomes. However, beyond confirmation of characteristic SHH-pathway mutations, recent genome-wide sequencing studies have not revealed commonly-mutated genes with widespread relevance as potential therapeutic targets. We therefore examined any role for epigenetic DNA methylation events in MBSHH using a cross-species approach to candidate identification, prioritization and validation. MBSHH–associated DNA methylation events were first identified in 216 subgrouped human medulloblastomas (50 MBSHH, 28 WNT, 44 Group 3, 94 Group 4) and their conservation then assessed in tumors arising from four independent murine models of Shh medulloblastoma, alongside any role in tumorigenesis using functional assessments in mouse and human models. This strategy identified widespread regional CpG hypo-methylation of VAV1, leading to its elevated expression, as a conserved aberrant epigenetic event which characterizes the majority of MBSHH tumors in both species, and is associated with a poor outcome in MBSHH patients. Moreover, direct modulation of VAV1 in mouse and human models revealed a critical role in tumor maintenance, and its abrogation markedly reduced medulloblastoma growth. Further, Vav1 activity regulated granule neuron precursor (GNP) germinal zone exit and migration initiation in an ex vivo model of early post-natal cerebellar development. These findings establish VAV1 as a critical epigenetically-regulated oncogene with a key role in MBSHH maintenance, and highlight its potential as a validated therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for the improved therapy of medulloblastoma.

CIVB flashback analysis of hydrogen flame based on azimuthal vorticity at mixing zone exit

Swirl-premixed combustion systems exhibit potential to meet future regulations on pollution emissions. However, combustion induced vortex breakdown (CIVB) flashback is frequently observed in these systems, especially for high hydrogen content fuel. In this study, a swirl-premixed burner with diverging centerbody was used to investigate CIVB flashback based on azimuthal vorticity at mixing zone exit. Through 2D axisymmetric model, it was found that there was a maximal azimuthal vorticity at mixing zone exit for each equivalence ratio. The physical meaning of these maximal azimuthal vorticity values was the minimally required azimuthal vorticity to trigger CIVB flashback. At the same time, the required azimuthal vorticity declined with the increase of equivalence ratio since turbulent burning velocity started to control flashback. Nevertheless, azimuthal vorticity offered by heat release increased with the increase of equivalence ratio, which promoted flame propagating upstream continually.

Air-Staged Combustion Characteristics of Pulverized Coal under High Temperature and Strong Reducing Atmosphere Conditions

It is of great importance to clarify the effect of the combustion temperature in actual boilers on air-staging combustion of coals. In this work, a novel vertical tandem-type drop-tube furnace system was set up, in which a temperature of as high as 1600 °C can be achieved. Experimental investigations were performed thoroughly with particular attention to NOx formation and unburned carbon in ash. The results indicate that, to maximize NOx removal efficiency by air-staged combustion, the reducing zone should be under high temperature and strong reducing atmosphere (HT&SRA) conditions. A remarkably low NOx emission and high coal burnout can be attained concurrently by creating HT&SRA conditions in the fuel-rich zone. The NOx emission for high-volatile coals can be below 150 mg/m3. The special role of the temperature is discussed in detail in terms of the difference of NOx formation between the reducing zone exit and burnout zone exit. For comparison, the NOx emission in Ar/O2- and oxy-fuel-staged combustion was also studied. Staged combustion is as effective for NOx reduction in Ar/O2 and oxy-fuel as in air combustion. However, for oxy-fuel-staged combustion, the effect of HT&SRA conditions presents some differences, which are closely related with the oxygen proportion in the gas atmosphere. In addition, it is also found that the temperature in the burnout zone (800–1200 °C) has a weak effect on NOx generation, but CO emission would drastically increase when it is below 1100 °C.

Evaluation of swimmer-based rip current escape strategies

Rip currents are the primary hazard on surf beaches, and early studies described them as fast, shore-normal flows that extended seaward of the surf zone. Based on this traditional view, commonly promoted safety advice was to escape a rip current by swimming parallel to the beach. However, recent studies have shown dominant rip current re-circulation within the surf zone and have endorsed floating as an appropriate escape strategy. Here, a first quantitative assessment of the efficacy of various rip current escape strategies, with a focus on the underlying physical processes, is presented. A field study was conducted at Shelly Beach, NSW, Australia, measuring three rip currents (two open beaches, one topographic) over 3 days in varying wave conditions. Floating was found to be a longer duration, more variable escape strategy ( $$ \overline{t} $$ = 3.8 min, σ = 2.4 min), than swimming parallel ( $$ \overline{t} $$ = 2.2 min, σ = 1.0 min). Neither of the scenarios is 100 % foolproof, and both fail in some scenarios, making simplified safety recommendations difficult. Swim parallel failures are related to swimming against the alongshore current of the rip circulation. Float failures related to surf zone exits, with the highest exit rate occurring in the topographic rip. Float failures also occurred due to multiple re-circulations without the person attaining safe footing on the bar. The variable spatial and temporal behaviour of rip currents suggests that a single escape strategy safety message is inappropriate. Instead, a combined approach and scenario-specific safety advice should be considered by beach safety practitioners to promote to the public.

Nearshore circulation over transverse bar and rip morphology with oblique wave forcing

ABSTRACTThere is a paucity of field data to describe the transition in nearshore circulation between alongshore, meandering and rip current systems. A combination of in‐situ current meters and surf zone drifters are used to characterize the nearshore circulation over a transverse bar and rip morphology at Pensacola Beach, Florida in the presence of relatively low energy oblique waves. Current speeds vary in response to the relative wave height ratio (Hs/h), which defines the degree and extent of breaking over the shoal. In the absence of wave breaking the nearshore circulation was dominated by an alongshore current driven by the oblique waves. As waves begin to break across the shoal (0.2&lt;Hs/ h&lt;0.5) the nearshore circulation is characterized by a meandering alongshore current. As conditions became more dissipative (Hs/h&gt;0.5), the meandering current is replaced by an unsteady rip circulation that moves offshore between the shoals before turning alongshore in the direction of wave advance outside the surf zone. The increase in wave dissipation is associated with an increase in very low frequency (VLF) variations in the current speed across the shoal and in the rip channel that caused the circulation to oscillate between an offshore and an alongshore flow. The unsteady nature of the nearshore circulation is responsible for 55% of all surf zone exits under these more dissipative conditions. In contrast, only 29% of the drifters released from the shoal exited the surf zone and bypassed the adjacent shoal with the alongshore‐meandering current. While the currents had a low velocity (maximum of ~0.4 m s‐1) and would not pose a significant hazard to the average swimmer, the results of this study suggest that the transverse bar and rip morphology is sufficient to create an alongshore variation in wave dissipation that forces alongshore meandering and low‐energy rip circulation systems under oblique wave forcing. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Assessing the effectiveness of rip current swimmer escape strategies, Shelly Beach, NSW, Australia

McCarroll, R.J., Brander, R.W., MacMahan, J.H., Turner, I.L., Reniers, A.J.H.M., Brown, J.A. and Bradstreet, A., 2013. Assessing the effectiveness of rip current swimmer escape strategies, Shelly Beach, NSW, Australia .Rip flow dynamics have important implications for swimmer escape strategies, with recent field studies indicating flow is often contained within the surf zone, re-circulating onto shallow bars. Combining physical measurements in a variety of conditions with various escape strategies allows insights into the safest response by individuals caught in a rip. A three day experiment was conducted at Shelly Beach, NSW in December, 2011. Lagrangian measurements of rip flow using GPS drifters were obtained. Participants with attached GPS were deployed in groups of 3 to 5 in rip currents to simulate various escape actions such as floating with the rip current, and swimming in a parallel direction at varying distances from shore. Day 1 and 2 measurements captured an open beach rip current and an adjacent topographic rip current in moderate energy conditions. Day 3 measurements were obtained on an open beach rip current at a more exposed section of the beach under higher energy conditions. Results were analysed by duration and assessed as being either (i) positive outcome (high chance of safe exit); or (ii) negative outcome (greater potential for hazard). Mean durations were Float (4 min), and Swim (2 min). Of the eight escape scenarios tested, half had potential negative outcomes, including 2 of 3 Float options and 2 of 5 Swim options. Negative outcomes for Floats were related to surf zone exits, and multiple circulations. Negative outcomes for Swims related to swimming against longshore directed circulation. Neither strategy was clearly more likely to result in a successful outcome across all scenarios. Further investigations are currently being conducted in a greater range of hydrodynamic and morphological conditions.