Journal ArticleRip current likelihood as a function of incident wave conditions for different bathymetriesChoi, Junwoo (ORCID:0000000198748575); Elgar, Steve; Kirby, James TThe likelihood of rip currents as a function of water depth (tidal level), incident wave height, period, direction, and spectral spreading in both frequency and direction is investigated with a Boussinesq numerical model (FUNWAVE) for alongshore uniform, moderately variable, and strongly variable bathymetry, providing two- dimensional probability distributions of rip-current occurrence along the coast. The simulations suggest that over strongly irregular alongshore bathymetry rip-current likelihood increases with longer wave periods and narrower directional spectra. In contrast, over more uniform alongshore bathymetry, rip current likelihood in- creases with shorter wave periods and broader directional spectra. The simulations suggest that as bathymetric variability increases, the effects of different incident wave fields decreases.Elsevier2025-09-0110668552Applied Ocean Research162C1047270141-1187https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2025.1047272341381Rip currents rip-current likelihood Numerical simulation FUNWAVE Surf currentsNational Science Foundation