Lee, J.; Kim, I., and Lee, J.L., 2018. Improving the performance of rip current forecasting index with a focused on Haeundae Beach, Korea. In: Shim, J.-S.; Chun, I., and Lim, H.S. (eds.), Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2018 (Busan, Republic of Korea). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 85, pp. 1556–1560. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.

Rip currents can potentially drag swimmers into deep water, beyond seaward sand bars, and hence pose great threat to beach visitors worldwide. The primary aim of this study was to develop a method for improving the performance of rip current forecasting indices to more effectively, demonstrate a rip current warning level. The previous rip current forecasting index was established with four predictive levels: notice, watch, warning, and danger. The new index is based on a numerical model, using wave and wind data as well as forecast information. Through this study, standardization of rip current occurrence levels has been achieved, by using CCTV images recorded during the summer of 2015. Better forecasting accuracy was obtained given the improvement in predicting the rip current index for Haeundae, and was established in association with the Korean Meteorological Administration. The usefulness of the rip current predictive index on Haeundae Beach was determined through a matrix correlation analysis between the observed and predicted rip current levels. In addition, the accuracy of the prediction results was calculated using the new rip current forecasting index during the summer of 2016. It is necessary to continue the development of predictive studies for risk mitigation in a variety of coastal environments.