IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/nathaz/v120y2024i2d10.1007_s11069-023-06250-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental controls on lifeguard-estimated surf-zone hazards, beach crowds, and resulting life risk at a high-energy sandy beach in southwest France

Author

Listed:
  • Bruno Castelle

    (University of Bordeaux)

  • Jeoffrey Dehez

    (INRAE Nouvelle Aquitaine)

  • Jean-Philippe Savy

    (SMGBL)

  • Vincent Marieu

    (University of Bordeaux)

  • Sandrine Lyser

    (INRAE Nouvelle Aquitaine)

  • Stéphane Bujan

    (University of Bordeaux)

  • David Carayon

    (INRAE Nouvelle Aquitaine)

  • Rob Brander

    (UNSW Sydney)

Abstract

Understanding and predicting surf zone risks is of paramount importance to prevent drowning incidents and severe spine injuries on beaches globally. This study holistically addressed life risk at La Lette Blanche beach, southwest France, during the lifeguard-patrolled summer period (July–August) 2022, where intense rip currents and shore-break waves co-exist at different times and locations along the beach. Beach crowds and the levels of rip current and shore-break wave hazards were estimated hourly by lifeguards during patrolling hours. Wave, tide and weather conditions were also continuously recorded, providing comprehensive insights into the primary environmental controls on surf zone hazards and beach attendance. Results show that the daily average rip current hazard increases with large, long-period and near shore-normal waves, while the shore-break wave hazard is increased for long-period, near shore-normal waves and large tide ranges. Beachgoer crowd numbers increase on warm, sunny and light wind days although a severe heat wave occurring in July 2022 significantly decreased daily average beach crowd and deeply affected beach use. Days characterized by strong hazards and large beach attendance were associated with the largest amount of lifeguard rescues and drowning incidents, although correlations decreased by the end of the summer. This is hypothesized to be the signature of evolving lifeguard strategies (e.g., preferred locations of the supervised bathing zone, prevention measures) as they progressively increase their understanding of the surf zone hazards variability in both time and space at their beach as a function of tidal stage and incident wave conditions. Warm, sunny and light-wind sunny days (maximizing beach crowds), with large, long-period shore-normally incident waves and large tide range (maximizing surf zone hazards) were the most risky days, with shore-break waves and rip current hazards notably peaking at different times of the day. This study shows that lifeguards can be a valuable source of data to improve understanding of the environmental controls on beach crowd, surf zone hazards and life risk at the beach, which provides critical information to the development of holistic beach risk predictors.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Castelle & Jeoffrey Dehez & Jean-Philippe Savy & Vincent Marieu & Sandrine Lyser & Stéphane Bujan & David Carayon & Rob Brander, 2024. "Environmental controls on lifeguard-estimated surf-zone hazards, beach crowds, and resulting life risk at a high-energy sandy beach in southwest France," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(2), pages 1557-1576, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:120:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s11069-023-06250-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-023-06250-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-023-06250-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11069-023-06250-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. L. E. Segura & I. Arozarena & W. Koon & A. Gutiérrez, 2022. "Coastal drowning in Costa Rica: incident analysis and comparisons between Costa Rican nationals and foreigners," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(2), pages 1083-1095, January.
    2. Philip A. Ebert & Ian N. Durbach, 2023. "Expert and lay judgements of danger and recklessness in adventure sports," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 133-146, February.
    3. Ghermandi, Andrea & Nunes, Paulo A.L.D., 2013. "A global map of coastal recreation values: Results from a spatially explicit meta-analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-15.
    4. Michael Siegrist & Heinz Gutscher, 2006. "Flooding Risks: A Comparison of Lay People's Perceptions and Expert's Assessments in Switzerland," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(4), pages 971-979, August.
    5. Bruno Castelle & Rob Brander & Eric Tellier & Bruno Simonnet & Tim Scott & Jak McCarroll & Jean-Michel Campagne & Thibault Cavailhes & Pierre Lechevrel, 2018. "Surf zone hazards and injuries on beaches in SW France," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 93(3), pages 1317-1335, September.
    6. William Koon & Robert W Brander & Gregory Dusek & Bruno Castelle & Jasmin C Lawes, 2023. "Relationships between the tide and fatal drowning at surf beaches in New South Wales, Australia: Implications for coastal safety management and practice," Post-Print hal-04266306, HAL.
    7. Baris Barlas & Serdar Beji, 2016. "Rip current fatalities on the Black Sea beaches of Istanbul and effects of cultural aspects in shaping the incidents," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(2), pages 811-821, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Estefania Basurto-Cedeno & Lori Penington-Gray & Xavier Basurto, 2025. "Developing a Comprehensive Index for Beaches to Enhance Sustainability and Visitor Experience Through Holistic Monitoring," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-24, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sabri Alkan & Uğur Karadurmuş, 2023. "Risk assessment of natural and other hazard factors on drowning incidents in Turkey," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 118(3), pages 2459-2475, September.
    2. A. Dana Ménard & Chris Houser & Robert W. Brander & Sarah Trimble & Alexandra Scaman, 2018. "The psychology of beach users: importance of confirmation bias, action, and intention to improving rip current safety," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 94(2), pages 953-973, November.
    3. J. Dehez & S. Lyser & B. Castelle & R.W. Brander & A.E. Peden & J.P. Savy, 2024. "Investigating beachgoer’s perception of coastal bathing risks in southwest France," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(14), pages 13209-13230, November.
    4. Rebecca E. Morss & Julie L. Demuth & Ann Bostrom & Jeffrey K. Lazo & Heather Lazrus, 2015. "Flash Flood Risks and Warning Decisions: A Mental Models Study of Forecasters, Public Officials, and Media Broadcasters in Boulder, Colorado," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(11), pages 2009-2028, November.
    5. Cirer-Costa, Joan Carles, 2015. "The pressure of tourism on the Mediterranean coastline and beaches," MPRA Paper 62843, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. L. E. Segura & I. Arozarena & W. Koon & A. Gutiérrez, 2022. "Coastal drowning in Costa Rica: incident analysis and comparisons between Costa Rican nationals and foreigners," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(2), pages 1083-1095, January.
    7. S. A. Mashi & A. I. Inkani & Oghenejeabor Obaro & A. S. Asanarimam, 2020. "Community perception, response and adaptation strategies towards flood risk in a traditional African city," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 103(2), pages 1727-1759, September.
    8. Jantsje M. Mol & W. J. Wouter Botzen & Julia E. Blasch & Hans de Moel, 2020. "Insights into Flood Risk Misperceptions of Homeowners in the Dutch River Delta," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(7), pages 1450-1468, July.
    9. Carlo Fezzi & Mauro Derek J. Ford & Kirsten L.L. Oleson, 2022. "The economic value of coral reefs: climate change impacts and spatial targeting of restoration measures," DEM Working Papers 2022/5, Department of Economics and Management.
    10. Rao, Nalini S. & Ghermandi, Andrea & Portela, Rosimeiry & Wang, Xuanwen, 2015. "Global values of coastal ecosystem services: A spatial economic analysis of shoreline protection values," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 11(C), pages 95-105.
    11. Shih-Hao Wang & Meng-Tsung Lee & Pierre-Alexandre Château & Yang-Chi Chang, 2016. "Performance Indicator Framework for Evaluation of Sustainable Tourism in the Taiwan Coastal Zone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-13, July.
    12. Laura K. Siebeneck & Thomas J. Cova, 2012. "Spatial and Temporal Variation in Evacuee Risk Perception Throughout the Evacuation and Return‐Entry Process," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(9), pages 1468-1480, September.
    13. Norton, Daniel & Hynes, Stephen, 2014. "Valuing the non-market benefits arising from the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 10(C), pages 84-96.
    14. Donatella Baiardi, 2021. "What do you think about climate change?," Working Papers 477, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised Aug 2021.
    15. Hiroaki Daimon & Ryohei Miyamae & Wenjie Wang, 2023. "A critical review of cognitive and environmental factors of disaster preparedness: research issues and implications from the usage of “awareness (ishiki)” in Japan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(2), pages 1213-1243, June.
    16. Baiardi, Donatella & Morana, Claudio, 2021. "Climate change awareness: Empirical evidence for the European Union," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    17. Andrea Ghermandi & John Agard & Paulo A. L. D. Nunes, 2018. "Applying Geographic Information Systems to ecosystem services valuation and mapping in Trinidad and Tobago," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 11(3), pages 289-306, October.
    18. Dingde Xu & Chen Qing & Xin Deng & Zhuolin Yong & Wenfeng Zhou & Zhixing Ma, 2020. "Disaster Risk Perception, Sense of Pace, Evacuation Willingness, and Relocation Willingness of Rural Households in Earthquake-Stricken Areas: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-19, January.
    19. Garbarino, Nicola & Guin, Benjamin, 2021. "High water, no marks? Biased lending after extreme weather," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    20. Matthew D. Wood & Ann Bostrom & Todd Bridges & Igor Linkov, 2012. "Cognitive Mapping Tools: Review and Risk Management Needs," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(8), pages 1333-1348, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:120:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s11069-023-06250-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.