Automatic Detection and Analysis of Rip Currents at Haeundae Beach using X-band Marine Radar

Abstract

The observation system has been developed to investigate the rip currents at Haeundae beach using Xband marine radar. X-band radar system can observe shape, size, and velocity of rip currents, which is difficult to obtain through field observation by conventional device. Algorithms which automatically detect locations, shapes, and magnitudes of rip currents were developed using time averaged X-band radar sea clutter images. X-band sea clutter images are transformed through 3D FFT into 2D wave number spectrum and frequency spectrum. Rip current velocities were estimated using differences in wave-number spectra and wave frequency spectra due to Doppler shift. The algorithm was verified by drift experiments. At Haeundae beach, the radar system exactly located the rip currents and found to be sustained for 1-2 days at fixed locations.