The beaches of Flamborough
Image B3 : Reighton Sands (Ref: TA
141 765)
As the tide ebbs, water is trapped behind the bar. The flow of water back to the sea is concentrated along the runnels (parallel to the beach) and then into rip channels which breach the bar. These small streams flow down the beach, and they are called anastomosing channels. ( which means that they are temporary and always changing). They show ripples on their bed (the result of turbulence) and are often braided.