Sea Grant Remarks as of 051304

\[05/12/04 Draft: Sea Grant remarks to focus on: 1) The science of rip
currents/nearshore coastal processes; 2) Application of research results
to operational use to increase public safety; and 3) Sea Grant\'s role
in public education and outreach of rip currents.\]

Good morning.

This partnership among NOAA Sea Grant, NOAA National Weather Service,
and the United States Lifesaving Association serves as a model of how
organizations can collaborate effectively to translate research findings
into results that benefit the public. And that's what NOAA Sea Grant
really is all about. Sea Grant is a nationwide network of 30
university-based programs. Our programs are located in every coastal and
Great Lakes state, and involve over 3,000 scientists, outreach experts,
and students. As NOAA's principal liaison with universities on coastal
issues, Sea Grant plays a critical role in funding applied research and
then delivering the results of that research to people through a
dedicated network of extension agents, communicators, and educators.

Over the past 20 years, Sea Grant has funded rip current research at
many of the nation's premier universities. Coastal scientists are
working to increase our understanding of rip currents through a variety
of techniques including field experiments in the surf zone, laboratory
experiments in wave tanks, and mathematical and computer modeling.
Through these laboratory and field research projects, we have learned
that rip currents can be found on many surf beaches every day and rip
current speeds can vary. Under certain wave, tide and beach conditions
rip currents can quickly become dangerous to anyone entering the surf.
Average rip current speeds of 1-2 feet per second can sweep even the
strongest swimmer out to sea. And rip currents have been measured as
fast as 8 feet per second, which is faster than an Olympic swimmer can
sprint.

It's critical that the scientific findings of these research efforts
aren't shelved with dissertations and scientific papers \-- Sea Grant
synthesizes science-based information and gets it to those who need it.
An example of this is the rip-current technical workshop that NOAA's Sea
Grant and National Weather Service convened in Florida last month. The
workshop improved communication between research scientists and
forecasters and helped to identify data gaps, partnership opportunities
and future research needs that will enhance and improve rip current
prediction and forecasting.

Over the past 25 years, Sea Grant programs have worked to increase
public awareness of rip currents through multiple, diverse outreach
efforts designed to help local residents and visitors familiarize
themselves with rip currents and avoid these dangerous coastal hazards.
Sea Grant programs around the country will continue their work to
educate the public and translate rip current research results into
operational forecasts. Through coordination of local beach patrols and
research scientists, we have developed programs to obtain site specific
and regional data on rip current development and behavior. Nearshore
wave, wind, and current data are obtained through observation and
instrumentation, and are correlated with rip current rescue information.
These data are then passed on to National Weather Service Forecast
Offices to aid in development of Surf Zone Forecasts.

From sponsoring timely, high-quality research to extending its results
to America's citizens through public education programs such as this
nation-wide effort, NOAA's National Sea Grant College Program is focused
on finding solutions. We're proud to join forces with the National
Weather Service and USLA for this national, unified campaign because we
know that targeted outreach efforts can save lives. Working together on
rip current research and awareness, we can continue to "bridge the gap"
among government, academia, scientists, and citizens with the ultimate
goal of improving public safety.

I now welcome Chris Brewster, President of the United States Lifesaving
Association.